Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Healy Eames, O'Toole, Alex White, Ó Brolcháin, Buttimer, Hanafin, Quinn, McFadden, Coghlan, Callely, Leyden, Bradford, Donohoe, Mary White, McCarthy and O'Reilly expressed their serious concerns and called for an urgent debate with the Minister for Health and Children regarding special needs education. I have already made a commitment to the House that we will have a full and all-embracing debate on the portfolio of health, and the Minister has always been forthcoming and generous with her time in the House.

Issues highlighted in the House this morning include speech and language therapy and the challenge facing those who have had strokes. There is so much that can be done for these people. As has been outlined to the House, 10,000 people per annum suffer from strokes and 2,000 people lose their lives. These are serious numbers. I know the Minister has no difficulty in coming here to update the House on the future plans of the Department of Health and Children in this regard.

Yesterday's statements on banking will be rolled over and we will have further statements during the second week back after the Easter recess. It is my intention that we will review the situation facing the Department of Finance with regard to the banking sector on a week-to-week basis during the next session. As has been said here this morning, the subject must be kept under constant review.

Senator O'Toole and other colleagues mentioned the social partnership deal and the public sector unions. The whole country is watching to see whether the unions will sign up to the agreement made in Croke Park on Tuesday. As we know, the deal includes a review of certain low-paid sectors which will take place after a year. As Senator Bradford said, it is in the country's interest that we have peaceful industrial relations at this difficult time, and the media have a major responsibility in this regard. The editors and sub-editors should, in conjunction with their very professional journalists and radio and television presenters, forget about seeking market share of audience listenership. In the national interest, they have a duty, as we all have - the trade union movement, the social partners, Senators and Deputies - to lead Ireland out of the financial crisis. I call on them all, on this Holy Thursday, to put Ireland first.