Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

In the course of his reply the Taoiseach said "the staffing issue has been resolved". How does he expect the Irish Nurses Organisation to respond to that claim? The staffing issue has not been resolved. That is one of the key problems that needs to be addressed but has not been addressed because there is no improvement whatsoever in the service.

Is the Taoiseach aware that the Irish Nurses Organisation has indicated that 100 beds could be brought on stream in accident and emergency provision in Dublin but are being held up because of a "black hole" in bureaucracy between the Health Service Executive and the former Eastern Regional Health Authority? Is he aware when he says Galway does not have a problem that Galway has a repeated overcrowding problem yet 60 beds in the University Hospital there remain closed?

The recent report of the Health and Safety Authority states that overcrowding has led to an unsafe environment for staff and patients. What action is the Taoiseach taking to address that dreadful situation?

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