Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I join the Cathaoirleach in welcoming the INMO delegation. As a committee, we recognised the urgency of hearing them on receipt of their request to come before the committee. I want to thank the Cathaoirleach and the secretariat of the committee for accommodating this at the earliest opportunity.

On that point, I note the INMO wrote to us on the same day it wrote to the Minister and the director general of the HSE. Has it received substantive replies from either the Minister or Mr. O'Brien? What is the status at this point in time of its request for a meeting with the Minister? The letter to Mr. O'Brien indicated a willingness, as always, to meet and engage. Will the witnesses advise where that might stand one full month later?

Without question, the members of this committee had a shared concern in regard to the situation Mr. Doran outlined. We regarded it as something that threatened grave consequences for patient care and safety, which would be one of the primary areas of concern in this committee. Having heard the INMO submission this morning, I have to say I am as alarmed as I was when I first read its communication. We are talking here about reductions in front-line staff numbers on top of all the reductions that have been imposed, particularly in the nursing sector, since 2008. We are looking at a situation of a reduction of the level of care for older people by trained nurses with substitution that has no basis in consideration, never mind agreement, it would be fair to say. This is totally unacceptable.

As a Dáil Deputy, I have no doubt the experience is replicated in the story of any of us here, Deputies or Senators. We are being exposed to the detail of very poor situations presenting, with not only poor outcomes but poor experiences, which are not a reflection on the professional commitment of those who are giving the service in a variety of hospital and other settings. However, it is indicative of the absolutely impossible situation that such a significantly reduced cohort of people are being expected to cope. That is the great difficulty and it will only be exacerbated by the measures the HSE has indicated, which will spell further misery for patients.

Mr. Doran said he would not accept it, which is good, because somebody needs to take a stand. We are at a very serious point. There are serious matters under address by risk advisers at various hospitals up and down the country, including in my own back yard, on a scale that might never have presented in the past but is presenting today. These cause great concern and worry in terms of public confidence. If the proposals are proceeded with, it will have a further negative impact on public confidence.

How do the INMO representatives see the practical outworking of the HSE proposals, if that is the right phrase to employ? For example, in hospital wards predominantly occupied by older people, how will this transpire?

What stance will the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, take to ensure this plan does not develop? The representatives of the INMO are here today but what plan of campaign do they have? The seriousness of the situation must be impressed upon those involved and they must know the INMO will not countenance this.

I am interested in the response of the witnesses to the letters of 15 May. I hope to speak again at the end of this meeting but I wish to indicate that this meeting is only an opportunity for a hearing. I hope the joint committee acts appropriately at the conclusion of this meeting with the INMO. Depending on Mr. Doran's reply to my first set of questions, I think we should take appropriate unified action as a committee to urge the appropriate responses from the Minister and the director general of the HSE. I will better construct my proposition when I hear the detail of Mr. Doran's reply