Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

In welcoming the visit of Nabil Sha'ath, a former Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Palestinian Authority, I mention again the idea raised by Senator Feargal Quinn last week: that we prepare and agree a cross-party motion calling on the Government to support the efforts of the Palestinian Authority to gain recognition for full statehood within the United Nations. Senator Feargal Quinn raised the issue last week and this side of the House completely agrees with him. I, therefore, ask the Leader, if possible, to seek agreement among the Whips on a motion to be discussed this week while Mr. Shaath is here. Some of us have been in contact with Palestinian groups and Irish support groups and the visit offers an opportunity for the House to table and agree a motion. Our Whip will certainly discuss with the Government and other groupings an agreed motion in support of the application for full statehood in the United Nations.

On Thursday there will be statements on A Vision for Change, the document introduced by the previous Government, on which much work was done by the then Minister of State with responsibility for disability issues, John Maloney. It is ironic that last week, under the radar, a decision was taken to disallow further admissions to St. Ita's Hospital in Portrane in my constituency, Dublin North. This is the largest psychiatric hospital north of the River Liffey but from 31 August there will be no new admissions. This follows a week of major issues in the health service, with people wishing some things that had been said could be unsaid and promises broken. I ask the Minister for Health to come before the House to explain how decisions such as this can be made directly to the staff, with no communication with the Dáil, the Seanad or other elected officials. This Government decision will no doubt be blamed on the HSE, but it means that 800 new admissions for acute psychiatric care must go elsewhere, although there is no provision made on the northside of Dublin for these patients. Within six weeks St. Ita's Hospital will be issued with a closure order without any announcement by the Minister for Health, in whose constituency the hospital is located. I will be raising this matter on Thursday, as no doubt the Leader will suggest, during statements on A Vision for Change. The irony is not lost on me. A vision for change in north Dublin means the shutting of a psychiatric hospital which is not the sort of change I want to see.

I will try to be relevant for fear I will incur the wrath of Senator Cáit Keane. Last week I asked about the assistance being given, based on promises in the programme for Government, in respect of distressed mortgages, following the recent ECB base rate increase, with two further increases expected later this year. I will ask the President of the European Parliament questions about this later.