Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

Ba mhaith liom roínnt poíntí a ardú. I would like to refer to a number of issues of major concern, not only in Ireland but also across Europe. They stem from the comments of the President of the United States, Mr. Barack Obama, on the need for European leaders to grapple with the issue of debt in Europe, an issue referred to by the Taoiseach last Friday when he stated at a public event that he would meet the German and French leaders to discuss the very serious situation affecting Ireland and other EU countries. We heard the leader of Greece refer to it in a public address to the nation earlier today. I call on the Leader to ask the Minister for Finance to come to the House to discuss and outline clearly the steps the Government is taking to deal with the issue on a European-wide basis.

Many worrying issues arise in regard to health services. Last week we learned about the €6 million write-off by HSE West of fees for which consultants did not apply to the health insurance companies. Today we learn that the accident and emergency unit at Limerick hospital is not able to meet demand and that nurses are going on strike. We also learn that health consultants are breaching their contracts by not fulfilling their obligations to public patients within the State health care system. In fact, they are not providing the required level of public patient care. They are, however, performing extensive private health care duties in public hospital facilities. The Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, is long overdue a visit to the House. This side has been calling for him to visit since the new Seanad was formed, but he has not yet done so. I, therefore, call on the Leader to urgently request the presence of the Minister in the House to discuss these pertinent issues.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that we take No. 13, motion 5, which pertains to the septic tank charge and the consequences therefrom, at 5.45 p.m. today, in the presence of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, after the Second Stage debate on the Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2011. It is vital to the 440,000 households who live in rural Ireland and who are scared. As the Government has proposed EU legislation, they wish to ascertain whether it would impose a charge on anyone with a septic tank and whether such people will be asked to register the septic tank and bring it up to standard if it does not meet the standards. According to evidence put forward by the IFA and others, approximately 75,000 septic tanks in rural Ireland do not meet those standards. The cost of meeting the standards could be anything from a few thousand euro to €15,000 or €20,000 per household. What is the rationale for the Government move? The Government would have Members believe that Europe is imposing this-----