Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

Rather than having a broad, sweeping debate on health issues, which it could be, given the wide variety of important issues involved, perhaps we could break it down into sectors. I am seeking a specific debate on the HSE budget, which is an issue I have raised many times before. I am uncomfortable with the fact that the HSE, which is effectively a third party organisation, has control of more than half the country's tax take. Given the new expertise available to the House and the diverse interests here, it would be important to have a debate specifically on HSE financing.

I would also like to have a debate on where the national cancer control programme is working and where it is not. There are gaping holes in service provision, particularly in the north west, as Senator O'Keeffe pointed out.

I ask the Leader to bring forward a series of debates on the difficulties faced by many families in dealing with mortgage arrears, high unemployment and the inevitability of higher interest rates in future. As the Leader will know, in the previous Seanad many of us regularly referred to these matters and brought forward proposals to deal with them. In this context and following Senator Leyden's lead, this side of the House intends to introduce another Private Members' Bill - the enforcement of court orders (amendment) Bill. It aims to give statutory protection to the primary family residence, effectively preventing the granting of court orders to repossess such a residence unless the court is satisfied that an independent assessment has been made of the existing ability to repay. The court must also be satisfied that the original mortgage application and underwriting quality are assessed and that a range of alternatives is available, such as those brought forward by our group in the past and as now outlined in the code of conduct for the mortgage arrears resolution process. The proposed Bill, if enacted, would put such matters on a statutory footing. These issues had cross-party agreement in the last Seanad and I hope that the new configuration of the House, with two Independent groups and such a diverse array of backgrounds and expertise, will accept this Bill. It would show the kind of leadership that will ensure the future of this House.

On a humorous note, if the love bombing from Senator Norris continues, I am confident he will have his nomination for the Presidency by the end of the day.