The Order of Business is No. 1, Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill 2017 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and conclude not later than 2.45 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes each and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes each and the Minister to be called on to reply to the debate not later than 2.35 p.m.; No. 2, statements on amendments to councillors' conditions, to be taken at 3 p.m. and adjourned not later than 4.30 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the contributions of all Senators not to exceed five minutes each; and No. 3, Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017 - Second Stage, to be taken at the conclusion of No. 2, with the time allocated for the debate not to exceed two hours.

I read today in The Irish Times and saw yesterday at the health care committee that the chief of the HSE made a statement that the HSE could not progress the national children's hospital at the St. James's Hospital site. This is absolutely shocking. The Government knew about this hospital being constructed before the general election. It waved the site around. It has already spent money on consultants, on a board and on liaising with local residents. It is absolutely shocking to hear now, just when contracts were about to be signed, that this hospital will not go ahead. It is like a couple without a deposit or any mortgage approval saying they are going to buy a house. What this Government has done is absolutely disgraceful. It dangled a beautiful hospital in front of the eyes of the sick children of this country when it had absolutely no intention of going ahead with it. It is a disgrace. I would like the Minister for Health to attend the Seanad today to explain to us exactly what is going on and what his intentions are for this hospital. This hospital must go ahead. It is so important that the children of this country have the highest quality standard of care. Anything less than that is unacceptable.

I would also like to raise the issue-----

Is the Senator proposing an amendment to the Order of Business?

I am proposing that the Minister for Health attend the Seanad today to address us and give us a proper detailed update on what is going on with the national children's hospital.

Is the Senator proposing it as an amendment to the Order of Business or simply making a proposal?

I am proposing an amendment.

I apologise for interrupting. I just wanted to clarify the matter.

The second matter I would like to raise is the job losses in Leixlip at the Hewlett Packard plant. It was confirmed just before we came into the Seanad today that these job losses will go ahead. It is a massive blow to the local economy which has apparently been in recovery since 2014. I have worries that this may be a sign of one of Mr. Donald Trump's protectionist policies. However, the use of cartridges is on the decline. My heart goes out to the families of the 500 people who have suffered these job losses. I hope the Government will take steps to replace these jobs and ensure IDA Ireland makes a trip to Leixlip in order that the workers do not go too long without employment.

I call Senator Rose Conway-Walsh. There is a gap and she is the only one in line.

There is a gap and I am very happy to fill it.

Good girl.

That is okay.

In fairness, the Senator is more than that.

I thank the Leader. Listening to yesterday's debate on the scandal of waiting lists, I very much welcome Fine Gael's conversion to Sinn Féin's position, one that has been roundly criticised as fantasy economics by the Leader on many occasions. For many years Sinn Féin has produced alternative budgets that honestly set out the measures needed to address the shortcomings in the health service. On many occasions, the Leader has used these as a stick to beat Sinn Féin.

I would also like to see a debate, as was called for by Senator Martin Conway yesterday, on exactly how we fund health care in the future, rather than statements on the difficult choices regarding tax and expenditure that will have to be made. In the last budget Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil chose the €290 million in tax cuts over increased capital spend. Sinn Féin clearly demonstrated how €267 million extra could be spent on 500 additional hospital beds, reducing the prescription charges by €1 each and increasing ambulance cover, as well as improving mental health services.

What is difficult for an economic illiterate like me to understand is why the Government would choose to facilitate a tax avoidance measure for foreign vulture funds amounting to up to €350 million while at the same time denying citizens vital treatment unless they have the money to pay privately. I cannot reconcile that. At this moment, I know a man who is in absolutely excruciating pain waiting for vital treatment in my constituency in County Mayo. We have continued over successive Governments to give away all of these tax breaks and provide loopholes for people who do not need the money. That we are giving away all of this money is impossible for me to understand.

I would welcome it if the Leader of the House and the leader of Fianna Fáil explained to me why these choices are made. I cannot explain to the people I am here to serve why it is done.

This morning my colleague, Michelle O'Neill, has confirmed a financial package to deal with waiting lists in the North after the Assembly elections. However, the real solution lies in an all-Ireland health service, which would mean people not having to travel from County Donegal to Galway for chemotherapy owing to a lack of staff in Letterkenny. Any debate here on the future of health care must include a discussion on an all-Ireland approach to health which is an all-island issue.

I hear the Leader constantly talking in the background about tax. I am not proposing a high-tax option; it is a fair-tax option providing for a proper education service and particularly a proper health service for all the people on the island.

I am sure the Leader will give a satisfactory response.

I doubt if it will be satisfactory, but I wait in anticipation for words of wisdom.

The "Prime Time" television programme recently highlighted the primary school in Moyross that introduced mindfulness into teaching in the classroom. The effects were found to be mentally, emotionally, socially and physically stimulating for the children. Perhaps it is something that might be spread across all schools throughout the country, starting with primary schools and moving on to secondary schools. I recently attended a secondary school event with the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, along the same vein. There were dance classes as well as songs. It was all about working together in unity and harmony. It was a very positive initiative.

I second Senator Catherine Ardagh's amendment to the Order of Business.

There have been five confirmed cases of the H5N8 avian bird flu in Ireland. In December the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed, introduced regulations under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 requiring the compulsory housing of poultry, which I welcome. It was a necessary move in order to avoid the spreading of the disease.

Last night's "Ear to the Ground" programme indicated that a major problem was coming down the tracks for poultry farmers who sell their produce as free-range. Hens that are housed for 12 continuous weeks will lose their free-range status. I want the Minister to address the issue and outline the provisions he may be putting in place. It would be serious for those producers to lose their free-range status due to their prudence in obeying the rules to try to avoid the spread of the disease. There needs to be a plan for the status of those free-range producers if the 12-week period is reached. Can some alternative rules be put in place temporarily because of the special nature of the curent situation?