Rónán Mullen (Independent)

Members will be aware that last Sunday in Chicago was called "Natasha's day". This relates to an Irish student who was badly injured when she was attacked in Chicago. Thanks are due to the people of Chicago who raised $250,000 to assist Natasha McShane. It is good to hear that she is now walking with assistance, is starting to use her arms and has begun to talk again. We wish her all the best for her recovery. It is appropriate that we record our gratitude to the good people in Chicago who took an interest in her case and showed their generosity and solidarity with her. We should send our good wishes to her and her family.

I too wish to express my concern about the ordering of business in the House. It is rather opaque. I can give one small example of what happens. I was hoping to have a Private Members' motion debated on a particular date. It was to discuss the need for more hospice-friendly hospital care. This is a very important agenda that must be discussed in terms of making our hospitals more effective, particularly in the provision of end-of-life care and the extension of services and assistance to people caring for those in end-of-life situations. I wish to bring people to the House to hear that debate but it is difficult to plan and organise for such events if one discovers shortly beforehand that it will have to take place on a different date. I accept that sometimes a change in schedule is unavoidable but I would certainly welcome greater transparency and more long-term planning so the House can operate more effectively with regard to its debates.

Finally, I regret that the HSE is planning to close another residential bungalow for ten people with intellectual disabilities. As a result, these people will have to move into unsuitable homes on the campus. I refer to Áras Attracta in Swinford, County Mayo. There has already been a closure of one bungalow affecting ten people and it now appears that another will close. People with intellectual difficulties are the last people who should suffer as a result of cutbacks. I ask the Leader to make that point to the Minister for Health and Children at the earliest opportunity.