Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I welcome today's debate on the health service and thank the Leader for organising it. I am slightly regretful over the time allocations in that an allowance of seven minutes is a little short. In important financial debates over recent years, spokespersons have had up to 20 minutes. Given that this is to be the first occasion on which the Minister of Health will be present for a general debate on health, it may have been more appropriate to allocate a little more time.

I join others in calling for an early debate in the context of the economic decisions taken in Brussels during the night. It is to be welcomed that the member states are acting together but I have concerns nevertheless. This is not just a matter I am raising today. When the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, was present, concern was expressed that a sweeter deal would be done for Greece than was done for us. I predicted this and it is a very real issue. We all welcome the fact that the Union may be a step closer to a solution to the crisis, but, having been clubbed over how we would capitalise our banks and over capital ratios and how shareholder value was effectively wiped out in our affected institutions, we must note that there will not be similar consequences for institutions in mainland Europe. As the crisis continues to worsen and the short sellers of the world realise they are to lose regardless of the outcome, the established nations will have pushed for a deal to facilitate what is effectively a 50% write-down of state income.

With regard to Senator Quinn's point, of course we want to pay our bills but it is vital that the Government not lie down. I have every confidence in the Government in terms of determining a solution that is best for the people. For me, the book is open again. It is open for Greece and may have to be opened for Italy and others. The terms and conditions that apply to the process for Greece are not as draconian as those applied to Ireland. It is paramount, therefore, that the Government dig in on this. While we welcome the agreement made during the night, the Government should dig in. At the next meeting, Ireland's deal needs to be on the agenda. We need to secure concessions for the Irish, who have been guinea pigs as the European masters worked their way through the process to determine what works. Now that those masters have defined the process that will work, they need to reconsider some of the draconian measures enforced in Ireland. It is imperative that this be done to be fair to the people of Ireland. I will make a point on inequality in the next debate. Let absolute equality exist among the nations and citizens of Europe.