John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

3. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether the current moratorium on recruitment within the Health Service Executive is negatively impacting on the provision of services across the spectrum and it is only a matter of time before the entire service is irreparably damaged; if the Health Information and Quality Authority has given its recommendations for minimum requirements regarding staffing levels; if he will make them available; his views on whether it is unacceptable that in a centre of excellence such as Waterford Regional Hospital the orthopaedic department has at times been running at less than 50% capacity with at least three of the surgical posts being unfilled which is exacerbating an already over stretched service and is resulting in waiting times escalating to years rather then months; if he will acknowledge that the orthopaedic department in Waterford Regional Hospital is now forced to set aside what are considered to be elective surgeries, although they are essential, as they do not have the capacity to maintain a full schedule for both in and out patient procedures; if he will make a firm commitment to review the moratorium and the effects it is having with a view to lifting the restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48347/13]

See this speech in context