Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

NPHET announces what it believes needs to happen on a public health basis. It does so all the time. It announces what it believes needs to be done and asks the other organisations to do it. NPHET is not Dr. Tony Holohan's outfit. He chairs the team but there are nine members of the HSE on it. Nothing is perfect, but it works well.

On nurses, my understanding is the number of nurses on enhanced contracts has gone from 3,200 when I spoke in the House on this issue last month to 4,500. Deputy Kelly is correct that the money is there and there should not be a blockage. The process needs to be sped up further.

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