Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Patients must come first but where are the patients in this debacle? The medical and management teams in this hospital are answerable to the people and to the Oireachtas and we must be given answers about what happened. It is completely unacceptable. It is a disgrace to say the least.

With regard to Senator Callely's proposal to split up the HSE using the European Parliament constituency boundaries as a guide, I must bear in mind Senator Hannigan's query. Why is information technology not being used to the same extent as in the private sector? This is how efficiencies can be achieved by the HSE and this would also help the nursing staff to increase their numbers. I am sure the number of administrative staff could be reduced by 10% and additional staff assigned to frontline care if information technology was used in the way it is used everywhere else in the world. There is a huge deficit here in the context of catching up with the times and facing the challenges and the realities. Just because the Government parties will pour €16 billion this year into the health service, it is not a bottomless pit and they must also be answerable about how the resources are best used. I hope to have a date on the next sitting day for a debate before the Easter recess. It will probably mean an additional sitting day on the first week we come back. The Finance Bill will be before the House that week but I will endeavour to schedule an all-day debate on Friday, 26 March on health issues, the challenges facing the HSE and the massive difficulties being experienced at Tallaght Hospital.

Senators McFadden, Bradford, Callely and Hanafin called for a further debate on banking. The Finance Bill is before the House on Wednesday, 24 March and all those issues can be addressed then. I have no difficulty debating NAMA and having the House updated at least once a month with the Minister present once we have passed the Finance Bill.

Senator Quinn called on the unions to call off all their actions in the context of negotiations taking place again and getting the Taoiseach and the Government around the table with the social partners. We have all agreed to and supported this call in the House this week.

Senator Leyden called on Ryanair to relax its identification system. He also highlighted the difficulties being experienced and the time it is taking for passports to be processed currently. I compliment everyone in the Passport Office for their effort, kindness and courtesy in the past but it is completely unacceptable in these difficult times that it is taking so long to process applications. I agree with the Senator's request.

Senator Walsh raised the issue of religious statues and objects being removed from hospital grounds. I will pass his request on to the Minister for Health and Children. The religious beliefs of patients in long-stay and geriatric hospitals, in particular, are extremely important and we should support them in every way we can.

Senator Walsh called for a debate on the tribunals, the length they have been ongoing, with some running for 12 to 14 years, and the fact that senior counsels are receiving €14,000 to €15,000 a week. I agree with the Senator's points and I will arrange to have a lengthy debate on the tribunals, the cost of them and the length of time it is taking to bring them to a conclusion.

Senator Dearey raised the concern of the Nuclear Free Local Authorities about the European pressurised reactor, EPR, design, manufactured in France, proposed for use in the UK. The request for a debate on this is worthy and I have no difficulty in making time available for it.

Senator Buttimer called for a debate on the future policy of Bus Éireann and for the Minister for Transport to be in attendance. I have no difficulty in making time available for such a debate.

Senator Carroll called for a debate on tourism. I apologise to colleagues who did not get to contribute to the very good debate on tourism last week. The debate has been rolled forward and it will be taken at the earliest opportune time. Given that the Minister, Deputy Cullen, will not be the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, I strongly suggest we defer such a debate until the new Minister is appointed and can come to the House. Senator Carroll had a lengthy contribution prepared for last week's debate but he did not get to make it. Other colleagues, including Senator Burke who has called for such a debate for some time, found themselves in the same position. Furthermore, how could we forget Senator Buttimer? I look forward intensely to his future contribution.

Senator Boyle, the Deputy Leader, correctly pointed out to me this morning that we should welcome the return of the Cork-Swansea Ferry; I was surprised this was mentioned by only one colleague this morning.