Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask questions of the witnesses. We had a beneficial engagement with members of the action group previously. I can understand the concern, emotion and involvement of the local community on this issue. Everyone is attached to his or her local health service. For Carrick-on-Suir, this seems to be an extremely personal situation. For example, we heard from the action group of personal experiences with St. Brigid's. I appreciate all of that.

The contribution by Ms Killeen White and her colleagues today has been interesting in that it has provided a little more explanation about the decisions that have been taken. In my questioning at our previous meeting, I had some regard to the HIQA report. Many statements have been made. For example, Ms Killeen White referred today to the "dedication, commitment and excellent care" provided at St. Brigid's. That must be noted. It was also noted in the HIQA report. The action group highlighted that just one or two elements of the report were given as reasons for closure. In the group's eyes, those reasons were not sufficient. According to the information provided by Ms Killeen White and her colleagues today, though, the hospital was not safe in a modern context. Ms Killeen White just told my colleague Deputy Higgins that the hospital was not suitable as a Covid treatment centre. I believe Ms Killeen White stated that one patient had been admitted to it. Now, the hospital has been morphed into a new health centre or hub, as it were.

Ms Killeen White mentioned diabetes and administrative care. Have staff members lost their employment as a result of the changes at St. Brigid's or is the staffing level the same?