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

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, personally for her recent trip to Kerry. She made a great impression and was highly regarded personally. She was very welcome and will be welcomed again. If she does as she did the last time and comes with her bags full, we will be delighted to see her.

I thank Sinn Féin sincerely for its excellent motion. I was glad to meet with the young student nurses and other members of the nursing profession who came here today. It is a big ordeal for people to leave their places of work, their families and their homes and to come by car, train or other modes of transport to protest at the Dáil. I welcome them.

In our hospital, University Hospital Kerry, we need 100 nurses. That is a matter of fact. In Kenmare Community Hospital and the district hospitals in Killarney, Cahersiveen, Tralee and Listowel, we need more investment in people. In Killarney, we need a new district hospital which - please God - we will get, but we need more investment not just in bricks and mortar, but in personnel. I will say again what I have said over and over again; one of the most stupid things I ever saw any group of people do was to stand up to praise and applaud the people working in our nursing profession. It was childish nonsensical behaviour. They did not want praise or claps. They want proper recognition and to be shown respect through the remuneration they receive. In other words, they want to be paid properly.

In a very significant move, the consultants in University Hospital Kerry, who are highly regarded people, have written to public representatives to say they have lost confidence in the management of the HSE. I will sit down after saying the following. The Ceann Comhairle often tells us not to mention anyone in a derogatory way and he knows I never would. However, I can do the opposite. I am allowed to. I will be very focused in saying this. There are certain people in HSE South who have done Trojan work. I am not a bit ashamed to acknowledge one particular individual, a gentleman - and I mean a gentleman - by the name of Michael Fitzgerald. He is a very senior officer in the HSE and does Trojan work in our county and beyond. I compliment him and others among the senior staff. I also compliment our nurses, the doctors, the people who keep the thing together and the consultants. We must make a proper effort to do our job right.

See this speech in context