Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Our nurses are fantastic; they do great work. We do not need to repeat that over and again. They do not want a clap on the back, rather they want to be respected and given proper pay and conditions, which is only minimal and right. I support this motion and, in particular, the provision to have the registration and retention fee waived. This must happen because we cannot simply allow the Government to pay lip service. It is a shame the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, is no longer in the Chamber, because there are a number of issues I would have liked to raise with him tonight. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for being here. However, there are other issues I would have liked to have raised with the Minister, which I will raise in due course.

On the lack of psychiatric nurses, their recruitment remains stagnant at present. This has a desperate knock-on effect on our mental health services. I was contacted by guardians dealing with a desperate situation involving a teenager who has made several attempts to commit suicide. I do not know how long they are waiting on a plan to be drawn up for this teenager. I do not want to be the person who receives bad news over the phone. Action needs to be taken in this desperate situation.

There are thousands of those desperate situations around this country and action must be taken. Given that we are speaking on health, I will end by calling on the Minister of State to give certainty to the people of Portlaoise and the wider Laois area that the future of Portlaoise hospital remains safe and secure. The Minister of State needs to give them that certainty. I support the local action group, which has been very vocal on the issue of the hospital. Will the Minister of State confirm that the future of Portlaoise hospital is secure?

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