Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

It is a broken statement. In the context of the Minister's statement I felt it was important for the Minister for Transport to attend the Seanad to explain what a Minister has said and not what the NRA has done. In addition, the Minister also told the people of Meath that not only was it approved for planning permission, for which €1.5 million was allocated by the previous Government, but that money had been approved by the Government for the compulsory purchase of the lands. We are all delighted to hear that in Slane and elsewhere in County Meath but there is nothing in the documents released under the freedom of information request about funding being approved. I am entitled to raise the issue because it was first raised by a Minister. I will seek to raise the matter again tomorrow because it comes from the mouth of a Minister.

On health, it is important that the Minister for Health would attend the House. Sligo and Leitrim are represented by more Senators than anywhere else and they are going through a lot with the MBNA situation. It is an important issue. I am half-Sligo myself in that my wife is from Gurteen. The promises that were made to cancer sufferers and patients are among the most disgraceful promises made to sick people in this country.