Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Gloster for that. It makes a lot more sense now. I appreciate that.

A lot of pieces of information that Mr. Gloster provided to other members is quite positive. It is important to mention that hospital settings are a high pressured environment, especially UHL, without having a model 3 hospital in the region as well to support it. The work is tense, extreme and high pressured at times. The staff do fantastic work. I commend all the staff in UHL on the work they do.

It has been refreshing to hear from Mr. Gloster that he has, for example, gone out for eight hours on call with ambulances. That is exactly the kind of hands-on approach that is needed and is important from the top down in the HSE. It is also an important development to hear about the management team working on Christmas Day.

I want to get clarification in respect of whether the embargo will affect plans that were previously mentioned in a number of areas. One was the expansion of the local injury units, LIUs, and the medical assessment units, MAUs. There was mention of an injury unit, IU, review in the urgent and emergency care, UEC, actions published this year. The Government committed to it also after a motion was brought to the floor of the House. Can expansions still occur and what would they look like? Are we aiming for it to be until 10 p.m., 12 p.m. or are we going for 24 hours? I know from a UHL briefing that it was saying that 24 hours may not be achievable but it would be to midnight.