Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to address a matter that was fairly conveniently not raised in Mr. O'Brien's opening statement, which is the memorandum that was sent. I note that the Minister for Health was outraged, as I was. I am well used to reading memoranda from the HSE. In fact, this morning is a little like a reunion of the national joint council.

The memorandum that was sent was disgraceful. How is it that it was drafted? Who approved it? Will Mr. O'Brien apologise to the staff at whom it was directed? Is this some kind of policy that is in place in the background which has leaked out by accident? I was outraged when I saw the contents of the memorandum as were nurses, midwives and other workers in the health service. Those people are owed an apology. That is the least they are owed. We should hear from Mr. O'Brien on the memorandum before we go any further.

Did it come from Mr. O'Brien's office? Was he aware of it and, if so, did he sanction it? If not, will he explain how a document of this nature was circulated without the knowledge of senior management?

To be fair to the Minister, he was first out of the blocks in expressing concern about the memorandum. I do not want to put words in his mouth by saying he expressed "outrage" but he definitely expressed concern. I have no hesitation in expressing outrage because that is how I feel about this issue. While I have other questions, I would like this issue to be addressed before the meeting proceeds to other matters.