Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

I am alarmed at the speculation that €6 million is being written off by HSE west. I dealt with a case recently where a relatively old person was hounded by a certain hospital to pay €100 for presenting at the accident and emergency department. That €100 was not written off; it was paid by a charity on behalf of the old lady.

I would like the Minister for Health to appoint a senior official from his Department to carry out an immediate investigation into what exactly is happening with this €6 million in HSE west. The inspector might also look at the various other elements of the HSE to see how much has been written off as a result of the debts of private health care. What is wrong with health care here is that we have a two-tier health service that needs to end. It is appalling and reprehensible that this is going on. Perhaps the inspector will also establish how many retired officials from the HSE are now working in private health insurance. That would be a very interesting exercise. Will the Leader establish that through the Minister for Health on our behalf?

I agree with other Senators who spoke about political reform and reform of the nomination process for the Presidency. What progress has been made in terms of the constitutional convention on political reform in this country? What has happened in the past number of weeks in regard to the presidential election makes it clear that the whole system needs to be reformed.