Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

We have borne the legacy of the decisions he took in the interests of the country and history will judge him accordingly.

I would like to support the comments already made about Cregg House. I will be very interested to hear what the Leader has to say about this, although I appreciate that it is a topical issue that has just come before him. Senator O'Keeffe will know that all eight Oireachtas representatives for the Sligo-North Leitrim constituency have met with the relevant Minister on this issue. Senator O'Keeffe has not been behind the door in going to the media on each and every occasion in respect of Cregg House, so I find it a little strange that she is now asking the leader of her own Government on its position on Cregg House, when she knows it full well. There are difficulties with the deficit and with governance in Cregg House that have to be resolved. The Senator will also know that when we went on that delegation to the Minister, he made it quite clear that the Government was not going to take up the slack on the issue. There is a responsibility on the Government to take some action on the deficit. It is difficult to see the Senator wringing her hands and asking the Leader what should or should not be done, when she knows full well what should be done for Cregg House. It is a sad situation and the nuns have had no choice whatsoever but to take the action they are taking. Senator O'Keeffe will again be aware of that.

This is a very serious issue that is affecting 200 people with special needs and their families. It cannot go away and it needs to be addressed. I hope that the Leader will have some words of comfort to offer on the issue. I also fully support the views expressed about the proposed amendment to the Order of Business.