Martin Ferris (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is evident from the Minister of State's reply that there does not appear to be any plan to put in place additional beds within the hospital. That is the crux of the problem. We have 17 to 20 sick patients on a daily basis lying on trolleys waiting for a bed to become available. Those beds should be available. It is not that the physical facilities do not exist within the hospital to provide them. Is there a political commitment to making them available?

The Minister of State said he is disappointed that industrial action was taken. I thought what they did was very mild. It was very principled and it was done in the interests of patients. The nurses came out in a peaceful protest to highlight the conditions they are working under. They wanted to highlight the 17 to 20 patients on trolleys and the fact that there are not enough beds available in the hospital and not enough front-line staff. The Government is not prepared to address those issues. It is stalling and dragging its heels and has been doing so for a long period. It is a very mild but a very principled position that the nurses have taken in the interests of patient safety.

The Minister of State says the task force is being implemented. Will it take another protest to implement whatever proposals the task force is going to make? Will it take another protest to get adequate beds in the hospital for patients in need? I hope the nurses' actions this week will accelerate whatever decisions the Government is going to take to provide patient care and safety to the people of our county.

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