Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State referred to consultation. It seems extraordinary that the Department is asserting that there was consultation with the unions on staffing figures and yet the situation has proceeded to a work to rule and now to the Workplace Relations Commission. That does not sound like an ordinary process. It certainly does not seem that any points which may have been made by the unions in consultation were taken into account. The Minister of State referred to agency staff and said that there is no threat to permanent staff, but it is clear that the global figure, inclusive of agency and permanent staff, will be reduced and nothing the Minister of State has said indicates the contrary. On the basis of current proposals there will a reduction of 16 nursing staff and five home care assistants. The Minister of State is saying that no permanent staff will be got rid of but the hospital will still be down staff. That will put pressure on the permanent staff and will lead to a reduction in services. The HSE and the Department need to back away from what is very clearly a cutback which will compromise safety and health care and will continue to put nurses, who are already in a precarious position, under extreme pressure.

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