Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I rise today to outline my disgust at the fact that the French boat Dignité was attacked by Israeli commandos at 12 noon, Irish time, today. I hope that all parties support the attempts by the leader of the Seanad on this side to table a cross-party motion condemning the military action of the Israeli commandos, in order to emphasise Ireland's renewed stance in our attempt to bring about Palestinian rights to aid, trade and statehood. I hope all parties and Members of this House, and indeed the Dáil, will support this effort.

When the issue of hospital care was discussed here, I was unfortunately detained at a committee meeting but I would like to refer to it. I met with a voluntary community group yesterday evening to discuss its valid concerns, which are emerging on a daily basis, about our local hospital in Donegal, Letterkenny General Hospital. The budgetary constraints placed upon the hospital management were touched on by the Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, last Friday when he said it was up to management in every hospital to live within their budgets - in other words, they must cut services if they cannot meet demand. That is an unreasonable stance for the Taoiseach to take. He is almost condemning the management practices being adopted within our regional hospitals. I want to say on the record today that the general manager of Letterkenny General Hospital, Sean Murphy, and his team are doing their utmost to live within the constraints they are subject to.

I hope the Leader will accede to the debate we are seeking. I ask that as part of it we discuss the issue of the moratorium on recruitment and the straitjacket placed upon HSE management at local level, which cannot send on requests to the Department of Health for the provision of essential services. We are asking for the moratorium to be lifted for certain aspects of hospital care. I hope that sense will prevail and that we can have this debate. I also hope that, for the first time in the life of this new Seanad, the Minister will not shirk his responsibilities and will come to the House.