Larry Butler (Fianna Fail)

Contract cleaning in hospitals should cease and it is time specific people were employed for that purpose. Contract cleaners leave hospitals and work elsewhere. They may then bring serious bugs back into hospitals by moving from one area to another. There is no control in this respect of cleaning services within hospitals.

It is also important that management ensures proper health and safety regulations apply because this is not being done correctly in St. Colmcille's Hospital. I was chairman of the steering committee in that hospital for a number of years and I know that the nurses, doctors and consultants there are fine, decent and good people who deliver a very good service. However, management there has been remiss in raising hospital standards to the required level. The beds are far too close together but this issue does not apply only to St. Colmcille's Hospital, it has been detected in Ennis, County Clare, and various other hospitals. It is a major issue that attacks the elderly. If one's uncle or aunt is of a certain age and goes to hospital he or she may not come out. The reality is that a most dangerous bug has been discovered and a microbiologist is needed on site to assess the situation in a laboratory. This is the only way the bug can be controlled.

I know others are anxious that I complete my contribution and I thank them for their forbearance because it applies to my area and is important. I support Senator Fitzgerald's call for accountability and for the Minister to ensure this does not happen again. We probably would not know about this if it were not for the coroner.