Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Given early retirements and so on, does the Minister not accept that the crisis in our health service can never be properly addressed until the measures include a lifting of the recruitment embargo? This is essential, given that many front line positions are not being filled. Only a moment ago, the Minister referred to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick. Is he aware that the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, stated today that, due to the moratorium on recruitment and the considerable financial deficit in which the hospital finds itself, local HSE management was not in a position to address immediately, even on an interim basis of five to six weeks, the patient safety concerns of the INMO's members? The Minister needs to examine the INMO's full statement. What steps will he take to address the INMO's service delivery concerns?

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