Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I sincerely believe they will be addressed. I have no personal worries that the matter will be one that cannot be addressed.

I refer to the positive economic forecast issued by the ESRI today. It is to be noted that the economy is forecast to grow by 1.8% this year and 2.7% next year. This far exceeds the gross expectations for our EU colleagues and is to be welcomed. It demonstrates that the economy is back on the road to recovery. I also note the comments by the ESRI that there is a significant and serious problem regarding lending to the SME sector. I ask the Leader if we could have the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, here for a debate on the matter. I appreciate that the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, has come here on many occasions. In this instance, we need the Minister to come to discuss the inability of the country's banking sector to serve the needs of the people.

I have every sympathy for Senators on the other side of the House who have called for the Minister for Health to come here for a debate. However, I have no doubt that it would be technically impossible for him to come today. I concur that he should be invited at the earliest possible opportunity. When he is here, perhaps he might address an issue that has been raised by an eminent medical professor. I refer to the inappropriate billing of VHI and other insurers for patients on trolleys in the State hospital system. At a time when people who are in genuine distress are giving up their private health insurance, or are going without essentials in order to pay for such insurance, it is outrageous to think private insurers are being charged for what should be a State service. If the professor's suggestion is accurate, it amounts to nothing less than fraudulent practice on the part of the State.