Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

It is not helpful for the Minister to deny the situation exists. These are exceptional figures. Almost a quarter of staff in the Department of Health left last year, including a large number of senior people. They have walked out of the Department of Health. These are not retirements. These people chose to leave the Department of Health. Why did that happen and, more important, what is the Minister doing about it? He must recognise there is an issue. It does not seem to be a particularly healthy place to work. Large numbers of people, including senior people, are leaving. Has any analysis of those figures been done? The Minister provided the figures to me in replies to parliamentary questions so he should be aware of them. Almost a quarter of staff members have left. Has the Minister carried out any analysis of the reasons people have left? Have exit interviews been carried out? This is a serious matter. It has serious implications for the health service and the Minister must get on top of it.

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