Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I take his word that will happen. I must point out to the Minister of State that the company, Bartra, is advertising 12-month contracts for clinical nurses in Nenagh. If it is advertising for clinical nurses in Nenagh for 12 months, it must expect it is going to stay there a bit longer. By the way, at the end of this I want to see the total amount Bartra was paid for doing this because I expect it will be colossal. Why is it advertising for multiple posts in Nenagh on 12-month contracts if, as the Minister of State says, this will be handed back to the people of Nenagh and surrounds this summer?

I have huge affection for the people involved here. St. Conlon's, the saving of St. Conlon's and the creation of this new CNU are central to everything I believe in politically and everything for which I have fought for years. I fought for this for years. The people of Nenagh have huge affection for this. People who were residents and who have passed away had fought for this unit and wanted to move across to it. Their families have been left without ever getting their loved ones across to this unit.

There is an inherent contradiction here. I take the Minister of State's word. He is an honourable Member and an honourable Minister of State. I take his word that this is happening this summer and what the HSE have responded to in my parliamentary question will not happen but that it will do what he says and that moreover, the issue of Bartra looking for people for 12 months also will not affect the movement of the residents by this summer and all the staff will be in place.

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