I propose an amendment to the Order of Business and call for the Minister for Health to come to the House. Following on from what my colleague, Senator Mullen, has said - and it is a shame he was not here for the debate last week on the hospitals issue - two things remain to be discussed. First, we do not know why a report was prepared in the first place and we do not have its terms of reference. We do know that its underlying agenda - which was clearly considered by the board's management - is to downgrade, downsize and reduce the number of maternity centres in the hospital region. That is clear when one reads the report.

Second, the Minister mentioned that there was a breach of procurement policy. However, he did not bring into the public domain the fact that the chairman of the west and north west hospital group was a shareholder in the company that had compiled the report in the first place.

That matter is completely out of order.

What is out of order?

The Senator's reference to a person who is easily identified and is not here to defend himself or herself.

With regard to the person I should not mention, who is easily identifiable and happens to be in control of public funds, I make no apology for highlighting the facts in this House on behalf of the people. For far too long we have tiptoed around a practice that is not in the best interests of the people, but I will not tiptoe around it today. I ask the Minister to come to the House to highlight for us what precisely is going on with the west and north west hospital group, which is what we need to know.

I wish to say how delighted I am by the nomination of Senator Barrett to the banking inquiry. One feels absolutely assured that his contribution will be second to none in the context of his intended participation.