Seanad status and Sláintecare
Senator Wilson joked about a referendum on the Lower House, the Leader rejected the remark, and members returned to defending Seanad status and criticising its exclusion from Sláintecare. The Leader said the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill would provide another chance to argue for fair treatment and resources.
The people voted to retain this House. We should ask them the same question about the Lower House and see what response we get.
Comment on this
We will not put that question just yet.
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We should include Deputy Bríd Smith in the question.
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That is her name but she is unknown to most people.
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Irrespective of political ideology, we should stand up for one another in this House. It was also disappointing that Members of the Seanad were not involved in the committee that drew up the Sláintecare report. The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill will come before the House this afternoon and I hope Members here will speak about the need for us, as Members of the Upper House and as public representatives, to be given a fair and equitable hearing, adequate resources and appropriate responsibilities. I will come back to that issue when we are discussing the aforementioned Bill because some of the carry on is less than helpful and unacceptable.
We had a discussion on the national children's hospital yesterday on the Order of Business. The cost is of concern. It is disappointing to hear that the projected cost of the hospital has increased by approximately €400 million, which may have an impact on other projects.
Senator Gavan's interpretation of the Government's foreign policy is a bit like the voodoo economics of Sinn Féin.