Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have no doubt that the Minister for Finance will have some good news for Senator Mary White in the budget and that there will be some adjustments to the inheritance tax regime to take account of some of the issues she has raised.

It is welcome that Electric Ireland yesterday announced that it was to reduce its electricity unit rate by 2% from 16 November. This is in advance of the increased demand for energy during the winter and will be welcomed by businesses and families. Electric Ireland is the second major company to announce a reduction in recent weeks and I hope others will follow. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Alex White, had a series of meetings recently with energy suppliers to discuss the speed at which wholesale energy price reductions were being reflected in household bills. While I welcome the reduction of 2%, a higher reduction is warranted. I hope this is only the start of further reductions.

Would it be possible for the Deputy Leader to organise a debate in the coming weeks with the Minister for Health on the findings of the Healthy Ireland survey which were published in the past few days? It was the first comprehensive national survey conducted since 2007 and produced some interesting findings. It shows that less than one in five people now smokes, that 85% of the population are in good health and that 28% have a long-standing health condition. While obesity figures are levelling out, some 60% of people are overweight, while two thirds of the population do not get enough exercise. We have good levels of mental health which are better among men but major problems that need to be discussed. I refer, in particular, to an issue at University College Hospital Galway where there has been a stand-off with staff recently on concerns about staffing levels and health and safety issues.That issue needs to be teased out further with the Minister. The survey shows that 63% of people who still smoke are planning to quit or considering doing so. There are some very positive findings. I would welcome a good and robust debate on how we could help to move on the positives and address some of the issues that are causing concern to citizens. I would appreciate it if the Leader could organise such a debate in the coming weeks.