Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I will ask my final question and then slip in one more at the same time before the Chairman notices.

On the health and social care professions, we have a long waiting list across the board. It is really chronic with many children and adults suffering. We need to hire more people, hold on to the people we have and get the most out of them in doing the job they want and know how to do. What would the witnesses ask the committee to do or ask the Government to do that would make it easier to hold on to these people? Is it flexibility, maternity care or something else? What would be the top things we could ask the HSE to do to make their lives better?

I will slip in the following question before the Chairman notices. This morning's newspapers have reported the Secretary General at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform speaking about the lack of ability to sanction civil servants for low performance. It is a real problem in the Civil Service. Do his comments also apply to the healthcare system?