Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I also wish to extend my sympathy to Senator Henry and her family, as well as the family of the former Senator Éamon de Buitléar. I also wish to condemn the callous murder of the young Detective Garda, Adrian Donohoe, in the line of duty.

In Cork University Hospital and Beaumont Hospital a two-bedroom unit and four-bedroom unit, respectively, remain closed for epilepsy services. The unit in Beaumont Hospital was refurbished at a cost of ¤1 million but remains closed due to the staff recruitment embargo. The consultant neurologist, Dr. Norman Delanty, is one of the country's foremost experts in epilepsy. He has said that he will be forced to send patients abroad for such services unless these units re-open.

People who have been advised to go abroad for treatment have tried to access funding from the HSE.

However, they have been told by the HSE to access services in Beaumont Hospital. It appears to me as though the HSE is at odds with itself and its right hand does not appear to know what its left hand is doing. Although it is telling people to access these services, they are closed. Consequently, I wish to add my voice to that of Senator Kelly in calling for a debate in the House in which the Minister for Health should participate. Moreover, this should not be an Adjournment debate but I ask that the Minister participate in an open debate in which Members can ask questions of him on the matter. In addition, the ban on staff recruitment should be lifted to enable the opening of these units because more than 200 patients are waiting to access the services, some of whose lives are at risk. Finally, I wish all the best to the Special Olympics team that has gone abroad to represent Ireland in the Winter Games over the coming weeks.