Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

I support the call for a debate on patented versus non-patented drugs. I raised the issue before, not just in this House but in the other House. It is important for a number of reasons. There is potential for a huge saving to the State and taxpayer. I have a view which I have no problem in expressing. GPs throughout the country get a lot of sweeteners and goodies from those supplying branded name drugs which is why when writing prescriptions they specifically prescribe the drug that is most expensive for the client because they are looking after those who look after them.

I support the call for a debate on health. I understand the Minister, Deputy Reilly, will attend the House shortly. I ask the Leader that during the debate the Minister would have due reference to the impending crisis in our maternity hospitals. Hospitals like the Coombe, the Rotunda and the CUMH are probably the safest places in the world to have a baby. Ireland has a great international reputation. The difficulty is the amount of qualified midwives retiring in the next few weeks. A master of one hospital has said it will cause a problem. Hospitals are slow to respond and they may then have to have a knee-jerk reaction.

There is a problem because when that happens there will be a dire shortage of midwives in our hospitals. One solution does not fit all. In certain cases in the public sector, such as the provision of adequate numbers of midwives for maternity hospitals, recruitment should take place. It is important that we debate the issue. Some 30, 40 or 50 qualified midwives could retire and will not be replaced.

I support the initiatives announced by the Minister, Deputy Shatter, today. Citizenship or passports will be given to wealthy people from Russia, China and Arab countries who come here and create jobs. It is similar to the passports for sale scheme that was so maligned. I am not saying it was right but rather than the scheme being abolished, if it had been properly regulated I have no doubt businesspeople would have availed of it. I know a wealthy Russian who has a sick child and would like to have regular access to Ireland, rather than a passport, and has promised to invest in a number of things including the Cork-Swansea ferry. Such investments would be good for Ireland, and create and sustain jobs, without being abused. I support the initiative.