Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment on the Order of Business by Senator Norris. I also want to be associated with the words of other Members in respect of the claims of bribery, which have been exposed by Senator Landy. It is of the most serious nature. It affects parliamentary democracy in the Oireachtas, because if a vote can be bought or swayed in any way by the inducement of money or a trip as in this case, then it is a most serious matter. The Leader needs to be establish an investigation into this matter, and I would like to hear what he has to say about it.

I also agree with Senator MacSharry's calls for a pre-budget debate. Let us have a sensible pre-budget debate and let us not criticise simply to be critical, but to be constructive as well. If the Leader could facilitate such a debate as soon as possible with each of the main Ministers, we will not be found wanting in coming forward with specific proposals on where we believe money could be saved. I appeal to the Leader to facilitate that. It will mean Ministers being available.

I call on the Leader to have a debate on the serious issue which I recently raised on the Order of Business in respect of waiting lists in our public hospitals. The Leader indicated at the time that there was no issue, but I now have the facts to confirm to the contrary. The number of people waiting over six months has almost doubled in the last six months. The total number of patients waiting over six months for in-patient treatment and day treatment has doubled from 6,038 in December to 11,985 in June. The figures for those waiting more than nine months show an extraordinary increase of 3,621%, from 107 in December to 3,982 at the end of June. That is alarming. We were promised before the last general election a new way of providing health for the citizens of our nation. That is not what is happening. It is a very serious situation. Politicians should not have to represent people who are looking for what they should get on entitlement. We should not have to assist people in scheduling appointments.

It is an emergency situation. I call on the Leader to facilitate a debate as soon as we come back in September on the issue of waiting lists in all our public hospitals.