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

I thank the Minister of State. I again ask what the Minister has done for the hospital since the day of his visit, when he came to stand for silly, stupid picture. What actions has he taken to improve the situation for people in accident and emergency? I will ask and ask until this stops. Why is it acceptable for people to say to a person who has gone to accident and emergency: “How many hours or days were you there waiting to be admitted?” That is wrong. That is not the fault of the staff who work so diligently and hard, late into the night and in the early morning, and who are worn to a thread from trying their best. Management is the problem. HSE management is the problem. The Minister is the problem. If University Hospital Kerry was a private company and he was the CEO, he would have been sacked long ago and he would be gone down the road with a P45 in his pocket having been told “We no longer require your services.” If you are not fit for a job, if you are not fit for purpose, you should move left and get off the stage because you are either able to do your function, you are either able to do your job, or you are not.

Again, when the vets of County Kerry can give more direct and immediate attention to animals than we can give to people, something has to stop. The buck stops with the Government. It does not stop with a nurse or a doctor. It is the people in charge. The taxpayers of Ireland are putting so much money into the healthcare service and it is failing despite this.

I again highlight the fact that we need to encourage more GPs into our rural communities. We need more ambulances, more nurses, more help and we need a positive recruitment campaign. However, if someone was a young nurse in England or Australia, when they hear what is happening in University Hospital Kerry, why would they want to come there? How could it be attractive for them? It is a shame and a disgrace to think that this Topical Issue debate went on today in the absence of the Minister for Health. Shame on him. He is leaving the people of County Kerry down.

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