Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I listened carefully to the Taoiseach's reply but there is nothing in what he said that gives any comfort to the wider populace, who will present at accident and emergency departments or in need of particular hospital care, concerning any possible changes in the current recruitment embargo and the posts that have been made vacant. Will the Taoiseach not avail of the opportunity to indicate clearly that the Croke Park deal maintains the current recruitment embargo on frontline staff? I speak specifically about nurses and midwives, an area where 1,900 posts are already vacant as a result of the embargo and, over the next three years, a signalled in excess of 6,000 further posts across the public health system will be left unfilled. Is the Taoiseach not aware also, from Deputies from all constituencies and across the House, there are huge difficulties at present within the health services and that frontline staff are being stretched well beyond the limit? This is exemplified in the very understandable position taken by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

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