Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I also support the calls of my colleagues for a debate on public sector reform. I empathise with the front-line staff in many of our public agencies, many of whom are demoralised by the prevailing comments in this regard. It is not their fault as they try to deliver services on a daily basis. However, it is the idea of the public service, its bulk and management that requires attention and Members certainly should have a debate in that regard. There are examples of reform that has been undertaken by agreement with unions and workers and I will cite one. The ESB is one of our largest semi-State organisations and while some people criticise it, I give it much credit. During the years of the Celtic tiger, it went from a workforce of more than 12,000 to 7,000 and introduced considerable efficiencies. It connected unprecedented levels of domestic and commercial users and proved that there is a way to reform efficiently through agreement. I compliment the ESB on doing so and hope that model will be used by other State agencies. It would be a worthwhile debate in the House.

There are concerns regarding specialist services in Waterford Regional Hospital, a group A status hospital serving a region of more than 450,000. There is a threat to many of the specialist services and I will give examples. Only one vascular surgeon serves the region because, while a second post has been approved, the Health Service Executive has not advertised it. There has been a drain of consultants from the hospital. For example, it has lost one dermatologist, three orthopaedic surgeons and one cardiac surgeon in the past year or two. People of this status leaving because the HSE is not managing the situation and appointing full-time replacements is a blow to the hospital's morale and its development. It is not good enough that temporary consultants operate in a regional hospital with group A status serving an entire region. Patients and the hospital are suffering and there is a lack of confidence in the situation. Will the Leader invite the Minister for Health and Children to the House to debate this important issue, which affects an entire region?