Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It seems as if we are having budget statements before the budget has even been announced, which I do not think is appropriate. I thank the Leader for giving time this afternoon for statements on the budget. I think that is appropriate and it is good to see we will be able to do that.

I renew my call on the Leader for a debate on universal health care and on the steps and progress that have been taken towards universal health care. Certainly, it would be good to have this in the immediate aftermath of the budget announcement this afternoon. It is likely that certain measures will be announced.

I hope steps will be taken towards that objective and there certainly has been particular speculation - which remains just that at this point - that free health care for the under-fives will be rolled out as part of that process of moving towards a system of universal health care for all and the abolition of the inequitable two-tier health system that has been perpetuated over many decades by successive Governments. If that step is announced in the budget this afternoon, it would be an important progressive step towards universal health care.

Last week, I asked the Leader for a debate on this issue in the near future and I renew that call. It also is important that Members have a debate on how best to help those hard-pressed families that are struggling, which the Minister, Deputy Howlin, has stated this budget will be designed to assist and support. Members might consider this in the context of being obliged to make the adjustments that must be made, albeit that it is to be welcomed that the adjustments are of a much smaller order than the original amount of €3.1 billion that was being put about and certainly initially was being sought by the troika.

I ask the Leader for a debate on a subject that is quite apart from the budget, namely, the constitutional reform proposed by the Constitutional Convention. While I have asked previously for debates on the specific issues on which the convention has been reporting over the past few months, perhaps Members could have a debate broadly on constitutional reform in line with the recommendations of the convention and in anticipation that there will be a Constitution day next year on which a successive number of amendments will be put to the people by way of referendum on the issues the convention has been discussing.