Phil Prendergast (Labour)

Since I became a Member of Seanad Éireann, I have raised the subject of the number of administrative staff within the HSE on many occasions. It is good that there is going to be a reduction in that number. However, the timeframe of 17 days in which people will be obliged to make a decision on such an important issue is extremely short. There is an element of suspicion with regard to why this process must be completed with such haste. We do not have exact figures in respect of how many administrative staff are actually employed by the HSE. The figure tends to vary from two for every one member of front-line staff to seven for every such member of staff. There is a need for a very real evaluation with regard to the actual number of administrative staff within the HSE.

It will be important to ensure that an element of corporate memory is retained in areas where there is a large take-up in respect of the early retirement and voluntary redundancy schemes. We cannot allow there to be deficiencies in respect of services, particularly in instances where vacant positions will not be filled. People will have 17 days in which to reach a decision and then a further couple of weeks will be devoted to evaluating the process. It is simply not feasible that this can all be done within the month of December.

I do not agree with what happened in respect of the Minister for Health and Children yesterday. I do not believe offering a protest in the way we witnessed yesterday would be acceptable in any civilised society. However, the Minister came before the House on numerous occasions to take statements in respect of the HSE and she never referred to the fact this major element of reform was on the cards. She never discussed this matter or put out feelers in respect of it. Neither has she given people who work in the health service time to consider what is about to happen. The drip feeding of information relating to budgets, borrowing levels and the dire straits in which we find ourselves is very similar to the time limit that is being given to people in order that they might make life-changing decisions. The amount of time being provided is simply not adequate. While I fully support the Croke Park agreement, a realistic timeframe must be provided in order that a proper debate might take place.