Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I withdraw it. I meant to refer to the next group of witnesses.

I do not think there is anyone present who does not completely empathise with everything our guests have stated. It cannot simply be the case that those in authority are treating our guests as badly as they do because they can and because there are no sanctions. I could go into my office tomorrow and be mean to my staff just because I can do so. There must be other fundamental reasons rosters have not been changed, why a fobbing system has not been introduced and why the negative environment in which our guests are obliged to work has not been addressed. I will not even mention the complete lack of both progression and a defined career path. All these are genuine issues and they must be addressed. Whose fault is it that someone is obliged to work 72 hours and how can that be justified without those in authority having attempted to make changes - which perhaps did not work - in the past? I find it difficult to believe that in the years since Senator Crown was a trainee doctor, the environment has not changed and that this is because no one has attempted to change it.