Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are coming towards the precipice again this term. Controversial legislation is likely to come before us at the end of the term. It will be rushed through and passed because of the Government's massive majority. It is about time people were informed that little or nothing of any substance is going on in the Parliament as a whole. It is about time people realised that and about time the Opposition highlighted it. It is about time the Government did something about it and legislated to improve people's lives.

We are looking for an urgent debate on the changes to the health service mooted yesterday. In that vein, I propose to amend the Order of Business to have an urgent debate today about the small hospital framework and the proposed grouping of hospitals in the two reports published yesterday by the Minister for Health. It is important to have the debate today. The reports are very vague and we do not know what will happen. Specific commitments have been given to a number of hospitals, including Kerry, Wexford, Letterkenny and Waterford. I congratulate the Leader on the representations I assume he made in respect of Waterford.

There are winners and losers in this report. Among the losers are Clonmel, Kilkenny and Castlebar, of which there is no mention in terms of the retention of services. Navan is being downgraded yet today Deputies are reissuing promises about the accident and emergency units despite the fact that the report is very clear that the accident and emergency units will be reduced in status and hours. There is a major question mark over the regional hospital for the north east, which was promised in a front-page article in The Meath Chronicle two weeks before the election. At a briefing session last night, the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, denied any knowledge of this. There is also considerable doubt about services at Sligo hospital although there is a suggestion it will be linked to Letterkenny, which is specifically mentioned for the retention of services. We need a debate to clarify exactly what is going on, who asked for what, who got what and whether this is being done for political interests, in the interest of consultants or in the interests of patients. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business.

With regard to the price of oil and gas and specifically motor fuels, a European Commission investigation started with dawn raids on a number of premises in the UK. There are serious concerns about the price of fuel in this country. Taxation is one aspect of this but another is the pricing of oil companies. It is opportune for us to have a wide-ranging debate on this without straying into the European Commission investigation. We could examine the price of fuel and why we are paying very high prices in the country.