Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senators have asked questions about health issues. The Minister for Health will be in the House next week for the debate on the Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill and the questions raised could be addressed by way of amendments on Committee Stage. I ask Members to examine aspects such as the new accountancy procedures in the HSE and submit amendments to elicit details about financial matters in the executive. I am sure the Minister will be here for Committee Stage of the Bill which is part of the process of reform and that he will continue to reform the system.

Senator Jim D'Arcy and several other Members asked about the reform of the junior certificate programme. When the Minister for Education and Skills was in the House, he dealt with that subject. There have been requests for him to answer questions on several education issues, including third level education. He will be here on 23 October as part of the pre-budget process and will deal with education issues then. There will be ample time for questions from Senators on such matters as reform of the junior certificate programme.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh recited a long list of negative aspects of the health service.