John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I certainly am not an ageist. Senator Ross made a good point about capital punishment. We are all appalled by the prospect of what is about to happen in Iran. However, we are slow to point out what happens regularly across the Atlantic. I am a strong supporter of the United States but when it comes to its capital punishment policy, we should not be afraid to point out our difficulties with it.

I agree with Senator Butler's point about the Cooney report and the difficulties experienced by those with mortgage arrears. A debate should be held on this as soon as possible.

Will the Leader organise a debate about the HIQA report on the HSE and children in foster care? Senator Cummins and others have raised this matter before and it is obvious the HSE is out of control.

Last week in Carlow, the HSE signed a contract to rent premises with no parking facilities in the middle of the town for €365,000 a year to house its occupational therapy and other community care facilities. This is despite the fact the facilities are already housed in the local public hospital, St. Dyspnea's, which is half empty and could be easily be refurbished to accommodate these facilities well into the future.