Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is doing everything possible. The 50 managers of the hospitals were invited to meet the Minister yesterday. Of course there is quite an increase in flu-related admissions to our hospitals. The Government has allocated €25 million in a national service plan and that is being used as planned in providing additional funding for 50 transitionary care beds in the greater Dublin area and 65 bedrooms are to come on stream in Mount Carmel on a phased basis. There are quite a number of other areas where the Minister is working as best as he can to address this situation. The Government regards the whole system of trolley waits as unacceptable and is doing everything possible to address the situation. The Minister is doing that.

Senators Bacik and Healy Eames referred to the Children and Family Relationships Bill. Senator Norris also referred to quite a number of issues that will come under the remit of that Bill in dealing with children, families, marriage, dignity and respect, as the Senator mentioned. We will have ample time to discuss this Bill when it comes before us. It has to go through the other House first so I am not in a position to say when we will get the Bill in this House. I assure the House that with the co-operation of all Members, we will have ample and sufficient time to debate that Bill. The same will be the case with the referendum Bills. We will provide sufficient time to discuss those Bills. There will be no guillotine.

Senators Bacik and Moloney welcomed the new policy on small schools announced by the Minister for Education and Skills.I hope that will end the scare tactics and the scaremongering that has gone on for quite some time in relation to the Government's supposed intention to close small schools.