Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As Fianna Fáil's spokesperson on disability, I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue. It is both topical and serious. I acknowledge first the fantastic work RehabCare does for 3,000 people in 117 locations nationally. The centre most familiar to me is in Bantry in south-west Cork. I acknowledge sincerely the fantastic work that is done there. I understand that after many requests by RehabCare, the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, and the HSE met representative of RehabCare last week. I understand also that there will be a further meeting tomorrow. I hope sincerely that it will resolve matters and ensure these vital services can continue to operate. Behind every service user is a family and I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, to keep that in mind as he meets these people. I suggest humbly that the Minister of State brings his cheque book with him when he tries to resolve this issue.

See this speech in context