Before the Christmas break I raised on the Adjournment the issue of procurement anomalies in the West-North West Hospitals Group, now known as Saolta. Various issues arose in regard to the group and the awarding of particular contracts. Connections subsequently emerged between the recipients of those contracts and management at the highest level of Saolta. The Leader will remember that an issue arose in regard to a report on the provision of maternity services and later it emerged that the Northgate Public Services organisation was awarded a lucrative contract. Again, there appeared to be a connection with the senior management of the group.

That is clearly identifiable.

The matter is already on the record in this House in the context of the matter I raised at the time. I do not ask the Leader to address the issue formally but ask that he kindly inquire of the Minister. The Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, assured me that an investigation that is under way by the HSE into the events would be completed by the end of December. That date was relevant because I said the outgoing CEO of Saolta should not proceed to his new role in the north-east region or at least that the appointment should be suspended until it is clearly established-----

That is clearly identifiable. Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

I would be grateful if the Leader would find out what has happened to the HSE report which we were told would be completed by the end of December. What are the results and findings of the report and what are the implications for the personnel involved? This is a serious matter because it relates to the spending of public money.

Very briefly and finally, I support every word of what Senator Feargal Quinn said about the Parliamentary Representation and Conscience Bill in the other House. We are facing into a period of Irish politics when, with all the debate that is going on about the new politics we need, the need for politicians to be accountable to their electorate and not to make promises-----

Senator Mullen is way over time.

-----before an election and then break them. With the forthcoming referendums, there is a real chance in the coming weeks and months for the Government to say it will put the legislation to the House so that when it comes to a referendum each Member will be free to give whatever direction he or she sees fit to the electorate without fear of reprisal from the party leadership.