Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I respectfully disagree with my colleague, Senator Byrne. I believe the new Independent group of the Taoiseach's nominees is very welcome and I wish them well in their work. I remind them of what I earlier encouraged them to do and ensure they are independent. Let it not be said that the term "independent Taoiseach's nominees" becomes an oxymoron in this House, like military intelligence or male intuition. They should strive to ensure it is possible to be independent. In due course the voting record will show whether they are. Either way I am sure we will hear some fine contributions.

In keeping with Senator Quinn's determination to bring good news before the House, I draw the House's attention to an excellent initiative from the Irish Hospice Foundation through its hospice friendly hospitals programme. Today it launched a range of resources for end-of-life care in hospitals, an issue in which I have a particular interest. We in this House last year had the first ever Oireachtas debate on the need for better quality end-of-life care. I hope to initiate a cross-party group of Members of the Dáil and Seanad which would keep the focus on the need to improve the quality of end-of-life care in our homes, hospices and hospitals.

Today at the launch of these resources, which aim to bring hospice principles into hospital practice, we saw, for example, the family hand-over bag. We have all seen the indignity faced by loved ones of a deceased person who are handed a plastic bag with the personal effects of the deceased person. The hospice friendly hospitals programme of the Irish Hospice Foundation has excelled in drawing attention to these important and symbolic but very real gestures of care. We saw the family hand-over bag that is now used and an altar table that is available. We also saw the introduction of an end-of-life spiral symbol to show people in the hospital that there is a person who is dying or who has just died in order that people can die in circumstances where their dignity and that of their loved ones is respected. This is an example of something that can be achieved without a large allocation of resources. I ask the Leader to bring that initiative to the attention of the Minister for Health because I would like to hear the Government's plans to give further support to such initiatives, which are so important. We talk a great deal about human rights and the dignity of the person. We must never forget that people at the end of their lives are often forgotten, as are their needs, and we should draw attention to their needs.