Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

It is important to acknowledge it.

My colleagues have spoken about the importance of public health nurses. Again, I can only talk about my experience. I had a little mishap with a hernia two years ago, which is always a very sore condition. However, I was able to go home from Tallaght hospital quite quickly but I could not have done so, and many other people cannot do so, without the service provided by the public health nurses, in my case in Brookfield in Tallaght. They were able to keep me out of hospital. That happens daily in every community throughout the country. Those who provide services for the elderly would also want us to acknowledge the work of public health nurses in that regard.

As a Fianna Fáil Deputy, who is today speaking from the Labour Party benches in the House, I have no difficulty pointing out that I have the same concerns as those Members. I am happy to be on that party's benches.

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