David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

It is part of public spending reform. The Minister should look at the recruitment embargo which is in place across the public sector. For example, recently I spoke to staff in Waterford Regional Hospital where, because of a shortage of nurses and doctors, it is recruiting staff through agencies and paying premium rates, and that is impacting on its budgets. Even the recruitment embargo is not having the desired effect of driving down costs. In hospitals, for example, it is driving up costs. From local authorities across the country which have seen their staff cut and curtailed, I am aware that services have been affected. I will have an opportunity on Committee Stage to deal further with the issue.