Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Reid and his team are very welcome. It is important, as always, to reiterate our thanks for the work they have done over recent years, which continues because, clearly, the backlog has to be dealt with now, and that is important as well. I wish Ms O'Connor the very best of luck in her new role. I have no doubt but that she will bring her enthusiasm to it. I also wish Mr. Woods all the very best in his new role.

I wish to raise three issues. It will be no surprise to Mr. Reid that the first relates to University Hospital Limerick, UHL, and the continuing challenges with overcrowding and patients on trolleys for protracted periods. The hospital continues to be the worst in the country in that regard by a significant number. At the end of April the Minister for Health announced that he was requesting Mr. Reid, as CEO of the HSE, to deploy an expert team to go into the emergency department in Limerick and to assist with the situation there. Has that team been deployed? If so, what is the initial feedback from it? Mr. Reid might also tell us who heads up the team. This is a very serious situation.