I want to be magnanimous and wish Deputy Joan Burton the very best in her new position. I was enthused by her remarks that she would look more into her heart than be ruled by her head. If that were the case, she might return to the real, true, red rose of Labour policies, so much of which were reneged on over the past three and a half years. If she really does look into her heart, I suggest that without further ado, she call a general election and go to the country.

Is the Senator ready for an election?

If her head rules, she will want to spend the next two years as Tánaiste. If her heart is true - she has a decent heart - then she would bite the bullet and face the music of a general election instead of procrastinating and talking out of both sides of her mouth.

I want to raise the scrapping by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, and the Government of the advocacy services for deaf people. It is a mean-fisted act. This cut will affect a minority group, approximately 11,000 people, but it means a lot to them. Earlier this morning when I arrived at Leinster House at 9.15 a.m., a deaf person presented me with a leaflet setting out the circumstances and difficulties that will ensue because of this decision.

I will go further by proposing an amendment to the Order of Business, that the Minister in question, before he jets off to Brussels and forgets about this and the other House, comes to this House today to explain the reasoning behind this cut and commit to reinstate this paltry amount of money which meant so much to deaf people. It is important this matter is dealt with today.

Hear, hear.

There is no point in a new Minister dealing with this after the summer recess and claiming it was a decision from the past. This is a serious issue and we all know someone in our community who has a serious hearing problem. Will the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, have a small bit of compassion before he leaves? He is a big man and should show a bit of compassion in this case. Perhaps he did not realise the serious implications of what reneging on funding for advocacy groups for deaf people would mean. I trust the Leader will consider accepting my amendment which would allow the Minister to reverse that cruel decision.