Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also stand in solidarity with the section 39 organisations. We cannot afford to lose SouthDoc services in Fermoy and Mitchelstown. We have discussed the lack of rural transport many times in this House. If we lose these services, people will have to go to Mallow, Cork city or all the way to Midleton and we do not have very much public transport.

It is impossible for those without public transport or private cars.

I also wish to raise how the HSE and the board have worked on the AGM. My correspondents said a text message about the AGM was received on 17 September. They had been advised by email on 10 September that it was taking place. No messages were received about motions and no ballot papers were received on the vote on the motions. There has been no explanation whatever to those working in SouthDoc on what has happened. As the previous Deputy noted, the conditions coming from the HSE are that anyone over 60 years or pregnant may not participate in these services. This is public money. It is a vital service being provided by the people who work in the system and want to provide the service but they seem to be stonewalled, blanked and excluded on certain issues. We cannot allow this to happen.

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