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

To break away from the subject for two seconds and to break the ice a small bit, I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for her direct work on, interest in and genuine concern for Ocean View nursing home in County Kerry. I will not go into detail but just wanted to thank her on the record. I acknowledge and appreciate her genuine interest – I really do – and so does everybody at the nursing home. All I ask is that she keep up this work and try to get the HSE to follow up. I thank the Chair for his indulgence.

Let me refer to Limerick hospital. I purposely spent a night in the ED in Limerick because I wanted to see at first hand what it was like. Yes, it was chaotic, but it was not the fault of the nurses or doctors on duty. It was because of the massive numbers of people going through it. That is no excuse for events that have happened there. We cannot blame individuals; we have to look at ourselves as politicians, the Minister for Health and the Department of Health. It is not a matter of pointing a finger at the staff below in the hospital and their extended families, who go to work, roll up their sleeves and try to help in an awful situation. We have to acknowledge their work. There are people in the hospital who are really trying their best and they are so frustrated. They do not want to hear their hospital talked about in a bad way, but, yes, there are problems and it is up to us as politicians, the Department of Health and the HSE to address them. We should always remember that the buck stops with the Minister. Meaning absolutely no disrespect to the Minister of State, I must ask where the head Minister for Health is. I understand other people are here, but it is wrong that he is not here.

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