Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to discuss some questions in the short time I have available. It was beyond belief that the 100% capacity on buses was reduced to 50% at the last moment. I can agree with why it had to happen, namely, to ensure the health of students travelling on buses to school but why was it done at such a late stage? We had the whole year to get our act together and that decision was brought upon us at the last minute. I take grave exception to that decision. It has led to confusion, upset and families not having transport for their children to go to school. That is why it is such an important issue.

We should be able to get to the stage of spontaneous testing and results. Surely in the world we are living in today we should be able to achieve that. The more we can speed up testing and results, the more we will be able to open up all possibilities.

We should be doing other simple and straightforward things. For instance, in the county I represent there are two excellent hospitals in Tralee, the Bon Secours, which is private, and University Hospital Kerry. I am very proud of the management and staff of the hospitals and the efforts made with regard to healthcare, not least during this pandemic.

Other things need to be done. I refer to the dialysis unit in University Hospital Kerry. Due to social distancing, a proper canopy to protect people from the weather outside of the unit is urgently required and would not break the bank. If I only asked the Minister of State for one thing on the floor of this Chamber, it would be to ask her whether such a canopy could be provided. I know of a man whose two legs were amputated and is on dialysis who has to go out in all weathers to an area where there is no canopy. That is horrific.

Could the Department of Health please stop praising our healthcare workers? They do not want praise. Our nurses do not want praise. The people working in catering do not want praise. They want proper pay. Pay and conditions were agreed a number of years ago. They want their money. They want us to keep our word to them, and I ask the Minister of State to please do that and to provide a canopy over the dialysis unit in University Hospital Kerry. I would be eternally grateful for that.

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