Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy again for raising this issue. I welcome the fact that there is a meeting today and that all sides have decided to participate.

I do not know whether the Deputy listened to RTÉ Radio One yesterday morning when Tony Canavan, the CEO of the Saolta Hospital Group, was interviewed. He gave a fantastic interview that clearly explained the work done by medical science laboratory practitioners in all of the hospitals. I say to anybody who thinks that their role just concerns patients within hospitals that they play an integral part in our health services. Not only do they do essential work for hospitals, but they also do essential work for GPs who need tests done on blood samples and so the impact of their work spreads right into the community. Yesterday, the CEO talked about the Saolta group, which concerns the area where the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, myself and our constituents live. He said that 400,000 procedures would have to be halted as a result of one day's strike. Therefore, we cannot afford not to have negotiations. The Deputy is right that we clearly need representatives of the HSE, the MLSA and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform at the negotiating table. I welcome the intervention and I am glad they are meeting now. However, meaningful negotiations must take place to prevent a repeat of what happened over the last two days.

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