Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I fully agree with the remarks of Senator Alex White but I am explaining to the House and outlining this blatant political opportunism. I will inform the House tomorrow morning that, every week if possible but certainly every two weeks, we will review and update proceedings and allow Members, with the Minister present, to express their opinions in respect of the serious issues evolving from day to day, many of which are unprecedented. None of us who has been here for a long time has seen what is happening in the banking world at present. I have no difficulty in allowing the longest possible time for all Senators, including Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Alex White, Boyle, O'Reilly, MacSharry, Leyden, Healy Eames, Bacik, Hanafin, Twomey, Ó Brolcháin, Ross, Coffey, Callely, McFadden, Ormonde, Coghlan, Buttimer, Dearey and John Paul Phelan, who called for an urgent debate on banking. I have no difficulty in allowing time for this to take place. It is my intention to have updates on banking issues from a Minister or Minister of State every two weeks until the summer recess.

Senator Alex White called for the Minister for Health and Children to come to the House to discuss health insurance and the reports by Ms Frances Ruane. I have no difficulty in acceding to this request. Senators O'Reilly and Ó Brolcháin referred to job creation and the opportunity for jobs to be created in the green energy sector. I refer to the energy reports, biogas, wind energy and the possibility of exporting energy in the long term.

The matter raised by Senators MacSharry and John Paul Phelan is serious. It is appalling when information that is the right of a Member of this House is denied by the HSE. I will pass on this information to the Minister for Health and Children immediately after the Order of Business and I will inform her of the experience Senator MacSharry had to go through to acquire the information. I compliment Ms Emily O'Reilly on what she has done to bring this matter to the fore. If it is a right of Members of the Oireachtas to be supplied with information, it is a poor day for democracy if the HSE refuses to do so. The person in the HSE who made that decision should be answerable to the Minister for Health and Children on this matter.

Senator Quinn referred to the Press Council. I will arrange a debate on the Press Council and I will come back to the House with a definite date for it later this week. Senator Daly called for an urgent debate on the West Bank and I have no difficulty in allocating time on this point.

The Senator outlined to the House what are in his opinion inaccuracies in regard to evidence given to the committee, which is certainly a serious allegation and a matter which we must look into.

Senator Bacik called for a debate on women in politics. The Senator will recall this debate had to be deferred as the previous date of Holy Thursday was not suitable to the ladies of the House.