Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have spoken for a number of weeks about the ongoing accident and emergency crisis in hospitals. The situation has been getting worse. There have been days on which more than 600 patients have not had proper accommodation in our hospitals. The Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, does a regular soundbite in which he says he must redouble his efforts and people must move on. Today, there are 55 patients on trolleys in Limerick Regional Hospital, which has cancelled all elective admissions. The same applies to the Mercy Hospital, Drogheda. There are 416 patients on trolleys and 135 patients in extra beds on the wards, a total of 551 sick people in unsuitable accommodation. The Health Information Bill is very relevant to this, as is the patient safety (licensing) Bill, which is to provide a mandatory system of licensing for public and private healthcare facilities. These hospitals are clinically unsafe. It is an urgent issue on which we need action.

The apprenticeship Bill is to provide for the protections and responsibilities that apply to employers and apprenticeships in light of the introduction of new apprenticeships and to provide for new governance arrangements in the apprenticeship, which is a key issue in opening up opportunities for young people. When will the legislation be published?

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