Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)

Yes. So she has stated. However, she also states the country is awash with money. She spends €1 million a year on public relations advisers and other public relations people. She spends €135,000 on one public relations person alone. I do not know what those people are doing. It would be far better if that €1 million was allocated to relieve the situation at University College Hospital Galway and at other situations. The Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children cannot hide behind a public relations team anymore. I call on her to open those beds.

Last week, I noted that the Minister for Defence was making St. Bricin's Hospital with up to 100 beds available to the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children to relieve conditions in accident and emergency departments. In Galway, we have the beds and all we need is the goodwill or a ministerial decision to commission the beds and provide the necessary funds to open them. I note the scandal whereby the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste spend more than €5 million every year on advisers and public relations. That money would do much to open beds at University College Hospital and other hospitals.

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