Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their attendance and their presentations and welcome them all. I will start by thanking all healthcare workers for their diligent and compassionate work and care for people during this pandemic, the likes of which none of us have seen on this scale before. Obviously, top of that queue are nurses, consultants and GPs but also all healthcare staff - cleaning staff, cooks, catering staff, maintenance staff, secretarial staff, administrative staff, porters, nursing assistants, managers, social workers, chaplains, pharmacists and physiotherapists - who have had front-line roles. The importance of caring has been recognised more now than ever before.

I recognise that resources are not endless and that spending more in one sector always means spending less in another. Perhaps all witnesses could comment on the €21 billion budget, which is the highest ever, with an additional €4 billion this year. That is certainly very welcome. I think Professor Landers has stated that that money is not being spent effectively. Perhaps he could advise how it should be spent, whether more should be spent or what he suggests we should not spend money on within the health sector. That is important. As I said, money is not endless.

What percentage of members of the witnesses' organisations have not been vaccinated? They should have been. That was, and should still be, the priority. What are the reasons for them not being vaccinated? Some were missed because, when their hospitals, HSE nursing homes or whatever were vaccinating, they were out, isolating or had Covid and that caused a delay. What is the relationship in that regard? Front-line workers must be the first priority.

Professor Landers and Ms Ní Sheaghdha made reference to the benefits of single-occupancy rooms. Will they expand on that? How do single-occupancy en suite rooms protect patients and staff? The new 75-bed unit in Galway is an example.

There are consultancy posts being advertised that are not being taken up. Does that suggest it is just about pay or are there also certain hospitals that are not as attractive as others, if I can say that, because of their size, location or so on?