Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I join Senators Keaveney and Leyden in passing condolences to Nessa Childers, MEP, on the recent death of her mother, Rita Childers, whom I knew very well. The former President and Minister, the late Erskine Childers, served as a Deputy for both Longford-Westmeath and Cavan-Monaghan. Mrs Childers has passed on to her eternal reward and we remember her at this time.

Concerning the debate on the health portfolio and the operations of the HSE, my intention is to have the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, and the Ministers of State, Deputies John Moloney and Áine Brady, present for an all-day session. It was not possible to arrange this for next Wednesday, as I informed the House yesterday, but I have confirmed agreement with all three Ministers that the debate will take place on Wednesday, 2 June. We probably will be more aware then of the outcome of concerns expressed by Senators on all sides of the House regarding the health portfolio. There will be no time limit on contributions from colleagues during the all-day debate.

Senators Twomey, O'Toole, Hannigan, John Paul Phelan, Boyle, Donohoe, Harris, Buttimer, Regan, Dearey and Mullen all expressed their strong views on the decision on the drafting of budgets of EU member nations and how the EU will keep an eye on this, in particular in regard to guidelines. All will have to toe the line and live within the spirit of the financial difficulties. As Senator O'Toole noted correctly, if we were not now members of the EU currency it is possible that we would be paying three or four times more for the interest rates on our mortgages and loans than we pay at present. I listened to the views of all colleagues in the House and have no difficulty in our having a debate to discuss and monitor this decision and the situation. I remind the House, in the interests of clarity and fairness, that it was Seán Lemass's dream that we join the EU and he wrote our first letter of application. It was Jack Lynch, then Taoiseach, and Dr. Patrick Hillery, former President and Minister, who signed us as members in 1973. I state this for the House. It was a vision of Lemass that has us in Europe today. How right he was.

Senators O'Toole, Walsh, Leyden, Ó Murchú, Quinn and Buttimer called again for the House to discuss the serious issues highlighted in the Supreme Court judgments regarding matters raised by Senator Walsh for the consideration of the House. No. 31, motion 4 on the Order Paper states: "That Seanad Éireann, in the light of the exorbitant fees being charged by Senior and Junior Counsel, calls on the Government to introduce [maximum fees]" and goes on to highlight the fees paid in tribunals. I have said that I want to arrive at an all-party motion whereupon we will have open-ended statements from those Members who wish to express their views. I invite all Members of the Seanad to look at the relevant Supreme Court judgments over the weekend and next Tuesday I shall give a date for this issue to be discussed in the House. It is our responsibility and duty. Under no circumstances can we stand idly by and allow the views of the eminent Supreme Court judges go unheeded.