Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Medical scientists carry out critical diagnostic testing of patients sampled in acute hospitals, including urgent testing for Covid-19 and everything else. They have played their part. This dispute and issue was settled 20 years ago and then, for some reason, some people in the HSE decided to overturn it and now we have this problem again. I welcome the fact that the pickets were withdrawn today and that there is room for talks because picketing is the last word, especially in the congested and failed health system we have and of which the Minister of State is in charge. It is failing people every minute and hour of every day. This vital component, the very important diagnostic people, are being mistreated in this way and are fleeing the service, leaving a bigger mess behind.

There is no problem getting money for Mr. Paul Reid or Mr. Robert Watt, or hiring a taxi for God knows how much out in Dubai and booking flights or anything else. It is no problem for anything else; the Government throws money at it. When it comes to looking after the most important key front-line people, however, the Government will not look after them. It has failed to look after them for years. It is time to pony up here. It is time that the Government listened to and, above all, respected them. I still do not know if many of the people on the front line who were promised the €1,000 got it in a big blaze of glory. The Government is good at announcements but it is not good at looking after its staff. That is the difference with the HSE. It should be disbanded forthwith and regional operations set up to look after the people. Molaim na daoine a bhíonn ag obair go crua ann.

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