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

I thank the witnesses for coming here today and, in particular, I thank Ms Magaharan and Mr. Walsh for their honest presentations. I have been a member of a lot of committees and conducted a lot of research on this matter over the years. I can honestly say that the submissions supplied by Ms Magaharan and Mr. Walsh have left me feeling very upset. The system is absolutely shocking, disgusting and disgraceful and the staff who work in the sector have been treated like dogs. I have never heard so much honesty as I have heard today. I cannot believe that people had to wait 14.5 years for a liaison team.

It is 2018 yet Mr. Walsh has said that he cannot offer the service he offered the previous week and they lose the trust and credibility which they work so hard to earn by not being able to offer a service. Jesus Christ, does this Government listen to anything? I have never been so upset in my life. We are supposed to help the most vulnerable in society but they have been kicked around the place. I have a number of questions but I will concentrate on this matter. I admire the courage shown by Ms Magaharan and Mr. Walsh. I do not want to put them on the spot. However, I will ask them two questions that they can choose not to answer. The truth must be told. I detest box ticking exercises and making up excuses that staff cannot be got and posts cannot be filled, talking in percentages and that one place is oversubscribed but people cannot be moved from A to B to fill vacancies in another team. The witnesses must have found it very difficult to come here because the powers that be batter people who tell the truth.

How do the witnesses feel about this meeting being televised? Can they honestly describe, without prejudice, their working environment and culture? I have read research material on the health sector for over 14 years and every time one comments somebody responds by spreading misinformation. I feel honoured and proud to be here today to hear the testimonies expressed by the witnesses because we must hear the truth. I am black and blue from approaching Ministers and telling them what does not work and asking for staff. We know why staff cannot be recruited because the Government will not pay them and give them self-worth. The witnesses hit the nail on the head when they identified the problem as the amount being spent on agency staff. I have spoken to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, about the matter. As much as €2 million a week is spent on agency staff. It will cost €1.2 million per year to fix the gap generated from 2011 to 2014, inclusive. Is there a political will to do so? No. Who is responsible? The last Government and the present one. I do not want the problem to persist on my watch. The people present and their colleagues deserve more. I cannot understand why the Government has not realised that prevention is better than cure. What will people do? To use a medical analogy, the Government waits for problems to fester and simply applies a bandage rather than a cast at the very start.