Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Ó Clochartaigh on the farcical situation regarding Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta, which continues to emerge with no finality being brought to bear on the matter. As Senator Ó Clochartaigh mentioned, people working for the organisation have not been issued with P45s or given a direction on whether they will obtain employment in a new organisation. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government should come to the House at the earliest available opportunity to discuss the ongoing situation at Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta and to give us an update on what the Government is doing to rectify and resolve the matter.

I support my colleagues who this week again have called for the Minister for Health to come to the House. Two Senators on the Government side appeared to support the call for the Minister to come to the House and I ask them to have the courage of their convictions and vote with the motion. It appears the only way we will get the Minister for Health into the House this week or next week will be if Senators support an amendment to the Order of Business of this nature.

A situation is emerging in the Department of Health which may be a minor-----