Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the health information Bill, it is reported that the HSE sent correspondence to the Department of Health in which it sought a budget increase of €1.4 billion for 2015. This would represent a net increase of approximately €900 million. As the Tánaiste is aware, the HSE was only granted an increase of €115 million in the budget. The Minister for Health is on record as denying that any request such was made or that he was seeking anything like that amount that was requested. What happened in the period between the correspondence in question being received in the Department of Health and the announcement of the budget? There has been a deafening silence in respect of this matter. Perhaps the Tánaiste will provide a commitment that the relevant information will be made available to the House.

In the context of the industrial relations (amendment) (No. 2) Bill, the Tánaiste will be aware that the trade union Mandate is in the process of balloting its members in Dunnes Stores. Retail workers in Dunnes Stores are encountering extreme difficulties in terms of how their zero-hours contracts are being implemented. I understand their grievances have been brought to the attention of management. What is happening is very unfair to workers because they face losing part of their salaries if strike action is taken. Surely it must be possible for an intervention to be made in order that a satisfactory solution to the dispute might be found.

See this speech in context