I support Senator Byrne in calling for a debate on the broken promise on free GP care for all citizens of the State.

There has been a litany of broken promises on this matter. When these promises were made two years ago, those who put them forward were well aware of and well briefed on the financial situation. The promises in question were ones with those responsible for making them could not keep.

Is the Senator seconding the amendment?

I am seconding the amendment. The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, signed a pledge to the effect that he would not increase school fees. When all is said and done, he will have increased them three times. It is bad enough to break a promise once but to do so on three occasions is quite an achievement. We were also promised the creation of 40,000 jobs per year. If we have a debate on the broken promise in respect of free GP care, perhaps in its aftermath we might engage in a debate on the famous five-point plan. If my colleague opposite from County Kerry can name the five points contained therein, I will give him a prize.

Does the Senator have a question?

I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the five-point plan and on those promises which it would never have been possible to honour-----

It is a pity I am not speaking after the Senator.

We are not discussing political manifestos on the Order of Business.

Those now in government promised people that they would get free GP care. This was despite the fact that it would never have been possible to deliver it.

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?