James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I do not believe that any useful purpose is served by this industrial action. I am concerned that a further stoppage has happened today and would urge the INMO to reflect on the impact which these actions have on the general public.

The shared focus of all those working in the health service should be on safeguarding frontline care in the face of the continuing very serious economic situation. The Mid-Western Regional Hospital Limerick was €16.2 million over budget at the end of July 2011 and has had to take measures to reduce its spending including a prohibition on staff overtime and on the hiring of agency staff.

In recent months I have established the special delivery unit under the leadership of Dr. Martin Connor. The SDU is working to unblock access to acute services by improving the flow of patients through the system. It is focusing initially on emergency departments and will be working to support hospitals in addressing excessive waiting times for admission to hospital. I look forward to the co-operation of all health service staff with this very important initiative, which is aimed at ensuring that patients receive a safe and appropriate service when they present at our acute hospitals.

I find it hard to reconcile the fact that the nursing unions are taking this industrial action given that they are parties to the public service agreement, particularly in view of the fact that the agreement focuses on the need to deliver services in the changed circumstances in which we now find ourselves and with co-operation between management and unions.

Last night the LRC put a series of measures to the unions to resolve this issue and those measures were refused. It appears, rightly or wrongly, that they will not yield on this issue until the moratorium is lifted and a cap put on the number of beds that may be put up in a hospital. I might be wrong on that but it is the message I am getting back. That is not possible.

As in all areas of the economy and the public service we must focus on solutions, including efficiency, flexibility and innovative working, to allow us to maintain our public services in the face of the economic crisis.

See this speech in context