Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Thomas Byrne, the leader of the Opposition, called for a debate on the hospital groupings and the report which was published yesterday. This theme has been echoed by quite a number of Members in the House this morning. No later than last night, I asked the Minister for Health to come into the House to debate this issue. While I have not got a date from him yet, he has indicated he is agreeable and, in early course, he will be coming into both Houses to debate the reports that were published yesterday.

Senator Byrne, as well as Senators Kelly and Mullins, called for a debate on the price of fuel and its impact on businesses in particular. I will certainly ask the Minister to come in for a debate on that issue.

Senator Bacik and other Senators referred to the review of oil and gas production and the benefits which can accrue to the State. Senator Mooney quite rightly asked me why a debate on the joint committee's report could not take place in this House and said it would have been normal that this House would have dealt with these matters. I wish to inform him that we debated the report in question, which was debated in the Dáil yesterday, on 27 June 2012 and he took part in that debate.