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

Words come cheap from Government. During the budget talks, the Taoiseach set his face against any consideration of bringing those agencies under section 38. He said it was not even being considered. He can make all the announcements he likes, such as the palliative care strategy or Sláintecare, but they mean nothing in the real world. When one comes face to face with the financial controllers of these institutions, who are trying their best and have been moderate in their response, it is clear that the Taoiseach does not value them.

He says he does. I get no pleasure in saying this but he does not value them, because if he did, he would not treat them as he does. He mentioned Wicklow. That will come in under Our Lady's Hospice in Harold's Cross. That means that it will be fully HSE aligned. The remaining hospices I mentioned will be further discriminated against. There will be a HSE hospice network while those in Cork, Limerick, Galway, Blanchardstown will be continually disadvantaged by the Government. The WRC agreement is a cover operation. The unions look after their members, which is their job. The Government gets to frustrate the whole thing for a year and a half and the Taoiseach can stand here and say that the Government has an agreement. In reality, behind the scenes, this puts an unsustainable strain on the hospices I mentioned. It is time for the nice words to end. People are no longer interested in the announcements that generate photo opportunities or the nice words that placate them in their daily duties.

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