Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

I appreciate the Chair's patience. I can inform Deputy Costello that I have already made a request to be allowed to visit the unit. I have been told it is not a difficulty. I did not make a similar request on behalf of other Deputies. I will make such a request and revert to all the Deputies in question. I assure Deputies O'Sullivan and Keating that people on overtime and agency staff are already working in the unit. I have been informed by the HSE that the difficulty is that it is better to have staff with whom the residents of the unit are familiar, rather than people who are not known to them. It is very easy to understand that point. The HSE has assured me that it has asked people to do a little extra work over Christmas. It is natural and understandable that people are reluctant to work during the Christmas holidays. I am in regular contact with the HSE. If it agrees to a visit by the Deputies when I contact it again, I will contact them.

See this speech in context