Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

The joke is that while the recession might be technically over people are still hurting financially and personally. There are two examples that should be addressed. First is the high cost of food in our supermarkets, the low cost of alcohol and how that is contributing to the high cost of food. It is an absolute scandal that alcohol could be more important than food in this society. Will the Leader put this to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation? The Minister must address it. The benefit in the high cost of food is not going to the farmer or the producer. We cannot let alcohol be more important.

The second issue is the scandalous and scathing report of the Ombudsman, Ms Emily O'Reilly, on the HSE. The rotten culture of secrecy still continues, as does the need for private payments to patients due to the HSE's failure of care. This is a culture of secrecy at management level, not at care level as I know so many of the good care givers. The Minister, Deputy Harney, must come to the House to address this report. Does she accept the report and does she believe it? Will she condemn the failures of the HSE, which she set up to provide a world class health service but which is failing our people daily? She must come to the House and give her view as Minister for Health and Children and the State's first servant on health matters.