I support Senator Rónán Mullen's amendment to the Order of Business on what could be described as a national scandal. Some €3 million is made available by the HSE each year to the crisis pregnancy counselling service. As previously reported, the information being provided, particularly through the Irish Family Planning Association, appears to be putting women's lives at risk. This is according to medical evidence and medical reports. In addition, serious questions need to be asked of the Minister for Health and the HSE. We must appreciate that the current CEO of the HSE is the previous chief executive of the Irish Family Planning Association. There are questions to be asked in this regard also. There is a need for an independent investigation. Can the HSE investigate itself on this issue? Time has shown it cannot. It is over eight months since it initiated the inquiry. A Garda inquiry was running in parallel, but there have been no answers to date.

Is the Senator seeking a debate on the issue?

I am.

Second Stage of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill is to be taken in the Dáil tomorrow. A reply to a parliamentary question last evening showed that the HSE was proposing that the findings of any report carried out on the misinformation provided and the threat to women's lives being facilitated by the Irish Family Planning Association would not be available for at least six to eight weeks. That appears to be too cosy and coincidental, given that the Bill will have been debated by the Oireachtas by then. There is a need for a 45 minute debate today with the Minister and the Order of Business should be amended. I plead with the Leader not to ask us to put this matter to a vote to allow for what I propose. If the Seanad is to be saved, questions of national importance such as this should be addressed here. We will have an opportunity to do so, as the Minister is due here today.