Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I acknowledge the passing of the late, great Maurice Neligan, an outstanding cardiologist and wonderful heart surgeon. Many people are alive today because of his skill and his vocation. When he retired he continued to be an advocate for the sick and the vulnerable in his column in The Irish Times, often criticising the Minister for Health and Children and Government policy on health. His last article referred to the Vision for Change document. He asked whether we would continue merely to talk the talk or if we would ever walk the walk.

I am very concerned about the great number of people who suffer from depression, especially as our country goes down the tubes, leaving people utterly stressed. My concern is that we are going to turn a blind eye to these most vulnerable people. Last Sunday was Mental Health Day. Senator Maria Corrigan has called for a debate on Vision for Change for a long time and I ask the Leader for such a debate.

Mr.Maurice Neligan also spoke about the National Children's Hospital, stating that the site chosen for it was entirely unsuitable. I agree. This hospital is for every child in the country, not merely those from Dublin. Putting 16 floors into a squashed site on the Mater Hospital site is foolhardy. There will be a piecemeal carpark where people will have no room to park. The hospital should be built on one of the many sites available now because of NAMA. There should be a greenfield site for a proper state-of-the-art children's hospital. Instead of spending the money on a small site that will cost the earth, we should spend it wisely on a greenfield site that will be a proper place where children can get better. I ask for a proper debate in which we can discuss this. I am sure my colleagues agree. Mr. Maurice Neligan would have been against co-location and a plethora of other policies that the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, has introduced. We should honour him for all his great work.