Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I mention my concern but I also understand there may be a technical difficulty about how we handle it. I will leave that to the Leader to decide.

I was impressed during the week to hear and read what the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, had to say about an open discussion leading up to the budget next year. Last year Senator Healy Eames proposed a Bill calling for the discussion about budget decisions to be held here in this House ahead of time. I do not think she managed to get a slot to discuss it but it is quite important that, if we have a big budget decision this year as suggested by the Tánaiste, it should be open and above board and not behind closed doors. We in this House should have our say.

I wish to speak about concerns I have for people with allergies, particularly children, and the need for some person in each school to have an EpiPen on hand at all times. I am not sure how that can be done or if each teacher would be capable of doing it. One member of our family must carry an EpiPen, without which they could die within nine minutes. It was discussed on television this morning and it is very important that we take steps to resolve it. It is possible to do something about life-threatening allergies so let us make sure that we do not put it on the long finger and find that more deaths occur.