Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thoroughly agree with Senator Davitt. The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy McEntee, did trojan work to pursue the issue across Europe. We were very unlucky. Everybody thought Frankfurt would be the victor.

Senator Colm Burke referred to the need for future planning on health to include national rehabilitation and I fully agree with him There is a need in the Munster region for a national rehabilitation unit similar to the one in Dún Laoghaire, because it would take some pressure off. We need to see this issue in future health care planning. We have already had a debate on the Order of Business this week on the issue around PESCO, raised by Senator Warfield, and Senator Alice-Mary Higgins had a Commencement matter debate with the Minister on the subject. Rather than rehash the debate, the Minister's reply was quite clear to the effect that we would not breach any of our agreements. This was in the Lisbon treaty which was passed by the Irish people. I would be happy for the Minister to come back to the House on the issue.