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

I support Sinn Féin's motion. Like everyone else, I was horrified by Aoife Johnston's death. As I said at the time and since, I honestly believe that those culpable for her death or neglecting her should be brought to book – no question about it. They should pay a price of some kind, depending on the seriousness of their neglect, for what they did not do.

I am very worried about issues with health services in Kerry. I have mentioned some of these today. Nurse posts are not being filled in Kerry. I have worked out that there are 120 beds idle in Kerry because nurses have not been appointed to fill the associated posts. Owing to the HSE's safe-working plan, it cannot operate a bed if it does not have nurses. I raised this with the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, today and I want it addressed.

Someone who gets sick on a weekend is in a very vulnerable position because many doctors are missing from where they should be. That is not good enough. We take people to the north of Ireland to get their cataracts removed. The staff are working around the clock, seven days per week, and we should be able to pay people to do the same. We are not blaming the people we have who are working and doing their best at the coalface every day. They are being let down by the HSE, which is not putting money in at the coalface.

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