Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

Like several of my colleagues on all sides of the House, I am not disposed to any interference to with the old age pension. At issue are the people who built this State. It is not a good thing that they should even be put under the remotest threat of having their old age pensions interfered with in the winter of their years. They contributed to those pensions and worked many years to pay their contributions. Now, in the winter of their years they should be allowed to enjoy their pensions.

Some time ago, I spoke in the House of the high performance of Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar. This was clearly indicated by the casemix money. Some time ago in this House, I indicated that I had invited the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, to visit the hospital and this will take place on 21 June. The hospital in Mullingar is new. It is very important that hospitals are duly rewarded for the services they deliver. Contrary to what has been said openly by many, that is to say, Mullingar is to lose services, I believe Mullingar hospital should be rewarded for its high performance levels and should get additional services. I look forward to the Minister's visit along with Senators Cassidy and McFadden, who are also from the county, and my colleagues from County Longford and the other House.

I have raised on many occasions in this House the question of our fish stocks. There is still strong evidence to suggest illegal fishing is continuing ad nauseam on our rivers and lakes. I ask the Minister responsible for inland fisheries, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to come to the House to debate this matter and let us hear his proposals to eliminate this practice. Our fish stocks, both coarse and game, are the reason so many people come to this country which is deemed to be a fishing mecca. We should not lose the basic resource which is what our fish stocks are.