Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join with colleagues in condemning the outrageous attack on our President by the so-called water protesters. Deputy Paul Murphy would be well-advised to get his megaphone out again, to explain to his supporters the constitutional role and independence of the President and to work towards taking the nastiness we have seen recently out of these protests. It is not serving our democracy well. I also wish to condemn the attack on the office of Deputy Mulherin in Ballina last night. Not alone is it an attack on our democracy, it is also an attack on a woman politician. At a time when we are trying to attract more females into the political system, this is sending out the wrong message. I strongly applaud the gardaí for the speed with which they arrested someone for questioning on this outrageous attack.

I welcome the fact that in a recent ballot IMO members have supported the new salary scales for new entrant consultants. These new pay scales and improved salaries will, I hope, keep more of our graduates at home and persuade many experienced consultants working abroad to return to Ireland. We need to get the message out to medical graduates that pay and conditions are beginning to improve again in Ireland and that we want them to be part of the health recovery underway here. I hope the HSE will move quickly to advertise and fill the many consultant vacancies in our hospitals so that issues raised in this House, such as waiting lists and patient safety, can be addressed as a matter of urgency. It is very much to be welcomed and I hope it will be the first step in addressing the major issue of our young graduates emigrating in large numbers and that we will see movement in the opposite direction from hereon.