Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I, too, welcome the actions of the Government on this matter. As Senator Bradford said, the families in question are from Sligo. They have waited a long time for closure on this issue. A former Member of this House, John Minihan, was in Lebanon at the time the soldiers died. I believe the Captain of the Guard in Leinster House was also serving at the time. We all welcome the progress on the investigation.

Following on from what our party leader Senator O'Brien said, I ask for an urgent debate on the HSE and the most unusual statement that it appears it is to write off some €6 million in uncollected debts from private health insurance companies. It is ridiculous in the extreme. We have seen robust debate in the House, including on the part of Senator Leyden, on the closure of the accident and emergency department in Roscommon and on bed closures in all hospitals throughout the country, particularly in the HSE west area. In Sligo, some 50 beds are closed. It seems beyond all comprehension that any Government agency could flippantly write off debt from another arm of the State, namely, the VHI, and other insurance companies. It requires an urgent statement by the Minister for Health, who should come to the House as a matter of the utmost urgency.

I call for a debate on overall responsibility within the Government for answering questions, including issues raised on the Adjournment, despite the best efforts of the Cathaoirleach and Leader of the House to have them answered. With regard to health issues, under the 2004 health legislation it seems to be the HSE alone that is responsible for answering questions. Issues pertaining to roads and transportation are solely the responsibility of the NRA. Ultimately, the people want Members to take responsibility for their actions such that they can have confidence in the political system and know that those they elect to the Dáil and to the Seanad, as councillors or university graduates, are taking responsibility for their actions. Despite the best efforts of the Cathaoirleach, it is ridiculous in the extreme that officials within the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport will hide behind legislation-----