David Norris (Independent)

I agree strongly with Senator Ó Murchú, who as usual spoke in a very clear, dignified and learned manner about the situation in the Middle East. He is quite right to say we need to have a debate on the situation in Gaza. Perhaps we could also consider the Goldstone report, which has been adopted by the United Nations. The report, which is being discussed by the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, makes it clear that if people are not held to account for what has happened in Gaza, it will continue to be repeated in a vicious cycle. The recommendations made in the report should be placed before the international criminal tribunal.

I support Senator Mullen's call for a debate on the need for stroke services. I ask the Leader to get some information for me in this context. The HSE's strategic review of neurology and neurophysiology services was finalised in December 2007 before being sent for international peer review. That process was completed in March 2009. We have seen nothing of it. It was commissioned, completed and paid for before it was buried, in effect. We are entitled to have sight of that review. If we are to move forward, we need to know what its conclusions are. An astonishingly large number of the citizens of this country have some neurological condition. The figures quoted to me are so large that I am a little afraid to place them on the record of the House before I check them out completely. We are entitled to see that report so that we can be in a position to act on it.