Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the Leader, in the light of Senator O'Toole's remarks and specifically the statement made by the Minister for Health and Children in the other House yesterday that her advisers had produced a report showing VHI could secure savings in the payments it made to hospitals, to invite the Minister to come before the House to discuss a motion calling on VHI to postpone its proposed increases in premiums. It is appalling and wrong that ordinary people will face increases of 45% in their VHI premiums in six weeks. Until yesterday, the Minister had been strangely quiet on the issue of the proposed increases. The House should debate the matter and ensure action is taken. For this reason, I call on the Leader to bring the Minister before the House to discuss the report produced by her advisers and seek a postponement of the proposed increases in VHI premiums. He should accept the amendment and avoid a division on the issue.

Last night we saw how close the Leader was to the Taoiseach. I call on him to ensure we are given a date for the general election. This morning Senator Boyle indicated he wanted the election to be held at the end of March. On the other hand, his Green Party colleague, Deputy Gogarty, tweeted that he wanted it to be held on 11 March. Let us leave politics to one side. The people are punch drunk as a result of cuts, low morale and a lack of leadership and communication by the Government. They want a change in direction. Does the Leader agree such a change will only be achieved through a general election and the formation of a new Government to lead the country and its citizens towards recovery? It is time we had a plan for recovery.