Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

On that last point, we certainly agree it is a state-of-the-art facility and one that should be opened immediately. It is all the more incredible, therefore, that the Minister has failed to make the required intervention to ensure the adequate staff are in situ in advance of the opening of the facility, as was clearly a requirement, not only of the INO but, indeed, of the wider populace who would be using it.

The Taoiseach must acknowledge that the integrity of the nurses and midwives in the Cork area who would be employed there is in question by the Minister's charge that this was all to do with greed and money. Does he agree that midwives and nurses are the people at the coalface of the delivery of the care to expectant mothers presenting for birth at this and every other facility, and they know first hand and best the level of cover and the various requirements that are necessary to ensure the safe delivery of a new generation of young children in that city and county?

I ask the Taoiseach to clarify his position. Does he understand the reason the midwives and nurses have rejected the proposition and, indeed, the further points put to them by the INO in an effort to see if there was another way through the difficulty? They have given a clear answer and the INO senior executive must follow through on its membership's decision. The Government also has a responsibility to follow through on that decision, that is, to ensure there is adequate staffing cover immediately. What steps is the Taoiseach taking to ensure this state-of-the-art facility is up and running before the end of this week?

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