Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

That is a typical reply. It is waffle from the HSE. Why were we not told that in the email that I received last Sunday evening? The wonderful staff that were there have been deployed elsewhere because of Covid. They put their shoulders to the wheel in the belief that they would be sent back to St. Brigid's. The building might be old but it is in pristine condition, with a new wing added for the hospice some years ago. This building will still be standing when many of the prefabs and quick-build units the HSE is putting up are rotten and decaying. We want the people of Carrick-on-Suir to be able to use it. They are a proud people but they have gotten nothing but kicks from this Government. There are no factories and no support but they are not accepting this. I spoke to Ms Catherine Foley this morning who will be pushing a bed to Dublin next week, all the way from Carrick-on-Suir. She is one of the activists in the town and is a non-political person. Councillor Kieran Bourke will be fighting, might and main, as will I because this is wrong. Why did the Tánaiste stand up and read out balderdash from the HSE? He is supposed to be in charge, along with the Taoiseach. This is being hived off and HIQA is being blamed. HIQA is not fit for purpose. It gets wheeled out when the Government wants to do something disastrous. The dishonesty and deceit that has been perpetrated on public representatives and the people is shameful and that is why politics is the way it is in this country. All the Government wants is big jobs and powerful positions and to hell with the little people but the little people will rise up in the spirit of C.J. Kickham of Tipperary and will not accept this from the so-called coalition.

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