Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senator Twomey on the position of public service workers.

There is no doubt the Health Service Executive has much to answer for. As Senator Twomey and others correctly noted, Senators cannot bring the HSE before the House and must rely on statements from the Minister. Surely the Minister has overall responsibility and accountability to the Oireachtas. This is the reason the call has been directed at the Minister.

The HSE has much to explain. As Senators will be aware, a large Sacred Heart statue, a landmark in Killarney which stood for more than 70 years over the front entrance of our district hospital, has been forcibly removed. Apparently, this was done without any consultation with patients or staff. I am not aware of any other issue in recent times which caused such upset in the local community as the removal of the statue without consultation. That people who fight turf wars in their little cocoons believe they can decide what is best for the rest of the community is disgraceful and the HSE must be made accountable for this matter.

On a wider issue, the events which have occurred in Tallaght Hospital are a disgrace. The House must rely on the Minister for information but the HSE has much to explain. I would like to hear the Leader's views on the matter.