Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I join with Senator Fitzgerald in calling for the Minister for Health and Children to come to the House today to discuss issues concerning us in regard to accident and emergency services and health in general. Will the Leader co-operate with this House and order a debate on the relevance of politics in society? I raise this issue in the context of the HSE and how it, without any influence from politicians, has carte blanche to close accident and emergency departments and nursing homes, as it did in Athlone last Thursday——