Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations this morning. I also thank them for their honesty and frankness. Obviously morale within the system is at an all-time low. Mr. Doran mentioned that if a nurse has the competence to write a prescription, it should speed things up, so that is covered. I would note as a red flag issue the 5% increase in the admissions of the elderly, which will continue. Should this be a massive issue of importance for Government and not just this committee? If hospitals are clogged up, other patients will be pushed behind.

On mental health and the issues with schoolteachers, how should that be addressed? Would there be contractual issues with that? I view this from the point of view of nipping things at the bud. As Mr. Doran hit on the existing contracts, the big bang theory is squeezed into a kind of small bang theory.

On accountability, leadership and confidence, if there was one thing that we could implement tomorrow, what would that be?