Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

The Seanad resumes at a time when the most serious and critical issues face the country. To recap, the unemployment figure has increased to 442,417, an annual increase of 5.4%, while the cost of borrowing has skyrocketed to a level we could never previously have imagined and is reaching close to unsustainable levels. It was 7% yesterday, but, thankfully, there has been a slight decrease today. The Anglo Irish Bank debacle continues and now a bank which we were told would need several billion euro looks like it will need €30 billion. We await the final figure tomorrow. The people are concerned about the slow pace at which the issue is being dealt with. They are asking why it has taken two and a half years to get close to the hard numbers for one bank, not to mind to begin to solve the problem. Why has it taken two and a half years to arrive at these figures? A lot has happened in the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany in those two and a half years. The United States has managed to set up its own NAMA, deal with the issues and turn a profit in the same period. The people are looking for leadership and concerned about the slow pace of decision-making by the Government. That is why so many want an election and a change of government. The Government majority continues to shrink and destabilise as Independent Deputies, Fianna Fáil Senators and other backbenchers say they no longer trust the Government. The people are looking for leadership. One of the problems in not dealing effectively and swiftly with the economic and banking crisis is it has begun to affect front-line services and the people who are paying the price for the poor decision-making are those trying to access such services.

I want to highlight what is happening in the health service. We heard that front-line services would be protected, but the HSE has explicitly stated they will be affected. Every Member is dealing in his or her local community with the issue of elderly persons going into hospital and finding that their home helps are no longer available to them when they return home and that they have to go to the end of the list again. Basic community services, including those for the elderly, are, therefore, being cut back. Deputies Mattie McGrath and Grealish have raised issues relating to local hospitals, while Senator McDonald has rightly voiced concern about the impact of health cuts in County Wexford. Statements on the provision of health services will resume later. However, I ask the Leader to take motion No. 17, which expresses concern about these cuts and specifically asks questions about continued health services being provided throughout the country. It reads: "That Seanad Éireann expresses its concern at the implication of Government health policy on hospitals in Wexford, Galway and Tipperary and seeks an urgent debate on this issue.". I move that amendment to the Order of Business so we can have that discussion, show our support and get answers on exactly what is happening to the health service throughout the country.