Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have just come from an ongoing presentation by Deputy Harty who represents County Clare and is a great champion of health services in both Houses. Members from both Houses are in attendance. Deputy Harty addressed several very serious issues and cervical cancer in particular. Three Australian experts are at the presentation and will then go to meet the HSE and senior Government officials.

It is a very important piece of work and prompted me to look again at page 54 of A Programme for a Partnership Government, a section entitled, A Decisive shift of the Health Service to Primary Care. It states that the Government is committed to funding and delivering 80 additional primary care centres. I ask the Leader to organise, when practical and possible, a debate on those promised 80 additional community care centres across the country which are of great importance. If politicians make promises, they must deliver on them. Many people are disappointed when people make promises but do not deliver on them. This commitment is in the programme for Government. Progress has been made on it but I am unsure to what extent.

It was St. Brigid's Day, 1 February, when the Taoiseach last appeared in the House. Much has happened since then and I ask the Leader, with the agreement of the House, to invite the Taoiseach to come to the House before the Christmas recess.I think we would both benefit from a period of engagement and discussion on the floor of this Chamber. I therefore ask the Leader to confirm he will pass on this invitation. I appreciate that it is ultimately a matter for the Taoiseach.

I wish to touch on the issue of local government. We are coming up to the last day in November and we have a commitment that we will have an interim report on the terms and conditions and pay of local elected members. We are all in contact with local councillors. I can tell the House that this week alone eight long-standing, capable county councillors have decided they will not run in the next local elections. Every week I hear news directly from councillors of people who say they can no longer stay in local government because of the dearth of finance and support and the need to attend meetings for longer hours. This must be a wake-up call to all Members of this House, of all parties and none, to address the reasons people are not staying in local government. We need these people, this experience and this exchange of views, backgrounds and traditions. The time has come for us in this House to unite to strengthen and support local government. Will the Leader indicate today, if he can, when this interim report will be done? We should have another debate very soon on the powers of local government and supporting elected members to do their job.