Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can verify, from both Naas hospital and the NRS, that it is being done. I understand the delays can sometimes be caused by the need to get Garda clearance and there might not be enough staff in the NRS to be able to recruit the correct numbers as quickly as possible. I might make a suggestion to the Minister, given he spoke about allocating staff to groups. Why not hire the staff through the HR department within a group, as this might be more beneficial and would be much more targeted, rather than having an over-arching body which is recruiting from all parts of the country and outside the country? The group itself could identify candidates. There is a CEO and a management structure in each group, and I am sure there is a HR department. Why should the HR departments within each group not recruit locally?

Another difficulty is that the voluntary hospitals are allowed to recruit. It is one HSE and all staff are paid through the one body. Why should there be preferential treatment for voluntary hospitals as against the non-voluntary hospitals such as Naas hospital? If we are working in a group system, let us have the recruitment on a group basis and not give priority to one hospital over the other.

I hope any staff who are going forward for interview would present as much of the documentation as possible so there is not this delay later on. I know we are in a situation where staff do not know if they will get permanent posts in the new recruitment process. I hope that, as this works its way through, it will be speeded up. We are at a sort of crisis point at the moment, as I see on a daily basis with people on trolleys at Naas Hospital and at other hospitals around the country. At the same time, there is potential for us to recruit the staff. I welcome that the Minister has given sanction for these staff and I appreciate his comments. However, I ask that the groups be able to hire separately from the NRS.

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