Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

Ba mhaith liom cuidiú leis an leasú ar Riar na hOibre atá molta ag mo chomhghleacaí, an Seanadóir David Cullinane, go dtabharfaí cúig nóiméad cainte do ionadaithe Shinn Féin le linn na ráitisí níos déanaí inniu.

I am seconding Senator Cullinane's amendment regarding the speaking time for Sinn Féin Senators. This is not an unreasonable request. If it is not acceded to, we will be obliged to call a vote on the amendment. The vote will probably take longer than the time we would be given to speak. I would prefer that we would be given the time to speak rather than wait around for a vote. Members of both Government parties have privately indicated to us that they are in support of the motion. I hope they will vote as they have spoken to us.

We are not trying to be unreasonable. We are trying to have a vigorous debate, to question the policies of the Government in a constructive manner and to provide a diversity of viewpoints. I implore the Leader to reconsider the allocation of speaking time for today.

Ba mhaith liom ábhar eile a árdú chomh maith. There is a story in a Galway newspaper this morning about people who were victims of flooding in County Galway and who are finding it very difficult to get quotations from insurance companies. This is a very serious matter. They cannot move their houses. The flooding is not in their control and much of it is caused by a lack of infrastructural work by the State. This is a serious matter and I call on the relevant Minister to come to the House to discuss this matter, to say what he can do to rectify the situation so that victims of flooding are not discriminated against by insurance companies and to clarify the role of the Financial Services Ombudsman of Ireland in this matter.

I also second the proposal by Senator John Whelan on health care. Senators Paul Bradford and Martin Conway also spoke about the role of old people in our society. We need to have this very important debate. The privatisation of health care for the elderly is almost Government policy. This follows the example of previous Ministers with responsibility for health care. I have heard the Minister for Health described as Mary Harney with a beard. Progressive Democrat policy is being followed through and health care for the elderly is being privatised. This is completely wrong.