Mary Henry (Independent)

May I make one comment on the Crumlin Hospital case? During the debate on health I said how bad morale was among the staff of the health service at present. This tragic case will have a devastating effect on the nurses in particular who are in close contact with patients and we will lose even more of them.

I support the call for a debate on the Department of Transport. When the former Senator Máirín Quill was in the House she commented frequently on the reports and surveys which came before the House and wondered what value they were.

Yesterday afternoon I was contacted by a young lady from England who was doing a survey for the Department of Transport here. I asked why an Irish company was not doing the survey and she said that because there was so much business it had to be farmed out to England. The young lady asked me questions such as: Did I agree slightly, disagree slightly, agree strongly, disagree strongly that I got promptness of reply, competence of handling of complaints, focused organisation? Am I treated as an important person? Am I happy with the quality of service received? Did I have trouble contacting staff by e-mail? It went on and on.