Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish Martin Groves, Bridget Doody and all the team in the Seanad Office, and all my colleagues in the Chamber, a very happy Christmas. I agree with Senator Murphy about the collegiality and the way we work together effectively for the betterment of others. I wish everyone a very happy Christmas.

I also wish to be associated with the remarks in respect of Private Seán Rooney. I pass on my own sympathies not only to his family and friends, but also his colleagues who were present in Lebanon with him. I wish the soldier who was injured a speedy recovery. I hope he will make a full recovery. It must have been very traumatic for all of the soldiers serving on the peacekeeping mission to be attacked last evening. I pass on my sympathies.

I would be remiss of me not to comment on the report launched by consultants this morning on hospital waiting lists and the failure to meet targets, especially in two hospitals in Limerick and Cork. We will have a new Leader in the new year but I will certainly call for a debate on this matter early in the new year. We are now in a cold snap and many people have been admitted to hospital. Some have had to wait up to 60 hours, which is not acceptable.We need a meaningful debate in the new year around hospitals, the winter plan and how we will tackle waiting lists.