Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

Will the Leader ask the Minister for Health to report immediately on the existence of Labour Relations Commission agreements between unions representing ambulance staff and the HSE National Ambulance Service wherein it has been agreed that sick leave must be offered to staff as overtime, and whether he will make an immediate statement on the matter? If what has been alleged to me in private is the case, while it might represent a new way of doing Government or business, it is a disgraceful way in which for us to preside over working arrangements for anybody. I am not looking for an amendment to the Order of Business, but if there is no answer by next Tuesday, I will do so, and each day until such time as we have an answer.

I have looked at the legislative programme, which was announced yesterday as representing a great way forward for the people. As has been mentioned, it includes additional burdens on households by way of charges for septic tanks of some €50, which is a small amount to some but is significant to many. It will also impose an annual household charge on the owners of certain residential properties. Yet again, it is void, absent and vacant, as is Government policy generally, in failing to do anything for mortgage holders and the many families who are struggling. I remind the House that the last act of the Oireachtas in the previous session was to vote down the only extant set of proposals that would have helped, and media reports have stated that the expert group that is soon to report will come forward with only superficial proposals to help families. Meanwhile, we in the Oireachtas preside over a legislative programme that will do nothing except increase the burden on families between now and Christmas.