Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I think very carefully about the way in which I discharge all my duties. I do so, I believe, in a very considered and responsible way. Some day Deputy Doherty may well be sitting in this chair and he will have to make decisions. As Minister, one does not always have a report on one's desk telling one to make the decision - one must use judement. Sometimes it is not easy but there is a real-life context within which this particular decision was made. I will not repeat all the points I made earlier on because I know colleagues want to raise other issues but there have been real-life challenges in filling senior leadership roles in health in Ireland. I am not talking about the UK or anywhere else in the world, I am talking about Ireland, in the past two years or so.

That is a reality. That is why the State has had to pay considerably higher salary, as the Deputy knows, to fill that particular role with someone of the calibre that, thankfully, we have at a time of such great challenge. I am well aware of the challenges and well aware of public concern. Sometimes you have to make a decision that you believe is the right one. Time will tell in regard to the quality of who we get, ultimately, and what impact they will have.

I know that, as others have, the Deputy has juxtaposed it with the issue of student nurses and other issues. He knows the Government is determined to resolve that issue. That is why we got the independent report to make the recommendation. We are engaging with the unions and, as the Deputy knows, unfortunately, because of the pandemic, there has been a temporary suspension in respect of the student placement of nurses. However, I believe we will resolve that issue and we will certainly endeavour to do so.