Shane Ross (Independent)

I am glad the Leader raised this matter because he is responsible for the Order of Business. Why, in the name of God, did we not debate the issue of waste in the Health Service Executive or the position with regard to SIPTU yesterday? A good case can be made for debating the role of trade unions. Did the Leader know that partnership money was regularly provided for trade unions? I did not know that was the case. The position is that the House will not debate the issue because it is awkward for many Members. It is, however, the type of issue we should be debating.

More good work is being done in the committees, which are relevant and responding to immediate issues, than in this Chamber. Let us debate SIPTU, the HSE and the power of the trade unions, of which everyone is so scared. I pleaded for months and years for debates on FÁS, but the Leader would not listen. Why did he not hold such debates? The reason was that it was a politically sensitive issue.