Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

While I appreciate the Minister of State's remarks on the additional €35 million in the budget and new proposals regarding the facility in question, we face a real and immediate crisis which is completely unacceptable. We may find, as a result of the recruitment embargo and forthcoming retirements in February, that we still have staffing shortages on 16 January. While this matter is being addressed, will the Minister of State make arrangements to allow the Deputies who have raised this issue to visit the unit in order that we can see where the women in question are being placed? I know such a facility resides with the inspector and ask the Minister of State to make the appropriate arrangements.

See this speech in context