Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do not propose to add very much to what I said in my initial response. From what I have been told, I understand there was a visit last Thursday by the Health and Safety Authority of relevance to this issue. A meeting between the HSA and senior management took place on Friday and some immediate issues were addressed, including updating certain policies. It was agreed that the HSE would submit a full action plan to address outstanding issues and that there would be intensive consultation between staff and management. There has been and will continue to be intensive consultation between staff and management which has been ongoing since last week to complete the action plan. It was anticipated that the completed action plan would issue to the HSA today. I understand it includes the recruitment of additional nursing staff to eliminate the requirement for agency staff. I will certainly communicate the issues the Deputy has raised to the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who is aware of the issues he has raised and has dealt with them in the House previously.

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