Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I join the Leader in expressing our sincere sympathy and condolences to the eight families of those who were killed tragically in Donegal. Road safety is something on which we should all keep our minds and on which we should reflect to see whether we can do anything in this or the other House on road safety.

The HSE's ongoing failure to respond to HIQA's grave concerns in respect of the safety of children in foster care is a clear demonstration that child care needs to be removed from the ambit of the HSE. It is clear the HSE is out of control, a sentiment that has been expressed by Members on the Government side of the House. It is failing in its core duties and is impervious to complaints from agencies such as HIQA. HIQA has expressed concerns in this area regarding unsafe placements of foster children, missing files and failure to assess carers. More than 100 child protection concerns have not been responded to by the HSE. Advocacy groups estimate that up to 800 children are in foster care without any assessment of carers taking place. What is the point of the State taking children into care if we cannot have some guarantee that they are placed in safer hands? That is the key to it all. HIQA has stated that some children in foster care have not had any contact with social workers for up to a decade and there are serious deficiencies in the social worker area, with wholly inadequate hours and wholly inadequate numbers. The net effect of this is that children's lives are in danger. It is time for the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, to face up to her responsibilities and ask if the HSE is fit for purpose at this stage. She needs to come to the House and explain to Members at the earliest possible opportunity what she intends to do to address this most important area.

Newspaper reports yesterday indicate that the final cost of the Anglo Irish Bank bailout could be as high as €33.5 billion. Given that the bank guarantee is due to be reviewed prior to renewal while the Oireachtas is in recess, can the Leader tell the House of the Government's plans to debate this issue in the Oireachtas prior to its renewal? That is very important.

My party has taken a different view from that of the Government on Anglo Irish Bank. Could the Leader also comment on the fact that yesterday it emerged that Mr. FitzPatrick is one of the bondholders who the Government appears so keen to protect? We need a working banking system. We need a guarantee, certainly on deposits. However, do we need to protect risk-taking professionals and investors who knew the risks they were taking at that time? I do not think we do. That matter must be addressed and I ask the Leader to comment.