Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

How long have these positions been vacant in Mallow General Hospital? When was it decided that these 20 vacancies would be filled? When was that decision taken by the South/South West hospital group? The Minister has used fine words about utilising Mallow General Hospital as much as possible to make sure that it takes pressure off other hospitals. That is a fine aspiration, but how long have these vacancies been there? My information is that they have been there for quite some time. When will they be filled so that we will have Mallow General Hospital working to its full capacity?

From my experience within the hospitals, I am being told that when theatres are closed and there is a large cancellation of planned surgeries in the city hospitals, at the same time Mallow General Hospital's theatres are lying idle. How long have these positions been vacant? When were they identified? Have they been advertised as of now and, if they have not, when will they be advertised and when will they be filled?

See this speech in context