Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

First, there has been much discussion about the 10% cut on last year's level in agreed hours for special needs assistants, SNAs, proposed by the Government. Where in the EU-IMF deal is it stipulated that the Government is tied into cutting SNA hours? The national recovery plan contains a commitment to retain SNA numbers at 2010 levels. Many parents of children with special needs find it difficult to understand why the Government is proceeding with an effective cut of 200 SNA teachers on previously agreed levels for 2010. Over the past ten years, great progress has been made in the provision of SNAs and language support teachers. Whereas, in 1997, there were fewer than 600 SNAs in our schools, the figure currently is in excess of 11,000. Does the Government propose to proceed with the cut in agreed hours for SNAs? Where does the EU-IMF deal say SNA numbers must be cut?

Second, services in regional hospitals have been raised a number of times in the House, particularly last week, and the Leader has stated the Minister for Health will attend the House in the context of discussing progress on the programme for Government. Many Senators have raised specific issues regarding how regional hospitals will be dealt with, particularly in light of the apparent difficulties in recruiting junior hospital doctors. Can the Leader indicate when the Minister will come to the House to address these matters? He was available to deal with the Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill, on which there was agreement throughout the House. However, a number of issues need to be teased out in great detail and tied down because the Government gave many commitments regarding the retention of services that cannot be met.

Third, the Minister and secretaries Bill provides for full powers to be conferred on the Minister for public expenditure and reform. Deputy Howlin is a Minister without Portfolio and, therefore, without powers in what is an important ministerial role. The Minister made a number of comments, which I welcomed last week, regarding progress under the Croke Park agreement. While I understand the Cathaoirleach's ruling, it is a pity Senator Byrne's request for an Adjournment debate on the apparent savings under the deal has been ruled out of order. However, all Members of the House will welcome an opportunity to have the Minister, Deputy Howlin, come into the House to discuss what appears to be the most important area where this Government will frame budgetary policy, particularly in light of the commitments given last week when we were told there will not be any income tax increases or social welfare cuts. On the basis of that I understand that the €3.6 billion adjustment the Government will have to make this year will fall mainly within public expenditure and therefore it is crucially important that well in advance of any decisions being taken the Minister, Deputy Howlin, come into the House. I would suggest that for the Government it is probably better that he come into the House once he has ministerial powers. In that regard I ask further when the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill is due to be taken in the House and when the Government expects that Bill to be passed to give the Minister, Deputy Howlin, some powers to enable him to drive through the reforms about which he continues to talk.