Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I extend deepest sympathy to the Fitzgerald family on the death of Alexis Fitzgerald, who served in this House and was Lord Mayor of Dublin in the 1980s. He and his wife, Mary Flaherty, both served as Members of Dáil Éireann at the same time. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family today.

I extend my sympathy to Deputy Joe O'Reilly on the recent sad passing of his mother.

I support the call for a debate in the autumn on the procurement processes within the Health Service Executive. What we saw on the television programme last night is cause for grave concern. Senator Ó Domhnaill said such practices may have gone on in the past and if that was the case, they were no more acceptable then than they are today. We need to have a root and branch investigation of what is happening and if sharp practices are taking place or there is illegality, the people responsible must face the full rigours of the law, which I certainly hope happens as a result of the programme last night.

I am concerned about an issue that came to my attention yesterday. The prison in Castlerea was unable to accommodate a prisoner who was brought there to serve a five year sentence for indecent assault because he was a wheelchair user who had special medical needs. He was taken on a 150 km round trip to the prison, but brought back to his home last night. That is an issue of serious concern. I am conscious of how the victims of that man's crime feel about the fact that he is not in prison having had a five year prison sentence imposed on him last week. The prison authorities were instructed to sort out the situation in Castlerea last Friday, and they were unable to do that. I ask the Leader to request a statement from the Minister for Justice and Equality on that issue and seek confirmation as to when this man will commence his five year sentence.