Seanad debates

Wednesday, 25 November 2015

10:30 am

Photo of Michael MullinsMichael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I echo the call I made yesterday for the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and the HSE to actively engage with the Workplace Relations Commission to avert the proposed strike for 15 December. No one would win in that situation. Elderly people will be traumatised, they will be stressed and worried about the inadequate care they may receive as a result of that strike. There are problems in the health service at the moment. The State has an ageing population, we have an increasing population and there has been major under-investment in facilities for the last decade. However, the emergency department task force which was put in place earlier in 2015 is making progress. There are fewer people on trolleys than there were a year ago and 200 additional hospital beds have been opened since October 2015 with more coming on stream. In facilities such as University Hospital Galway, until such a time as the new emergency department is built, the problems there will not be fully resolved. Actions will be required in the meantime to ensure the problems are minimised.

Senator Norris made reference to the additional nurses who were recruited. There are 800 more nurses in the system than last year and 400 are in the recruitment process. I would welcome a discussion with the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, regarding how these issues can be expedited.

Finally, I ask the Leader to organise a debate with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, on the regional action plan for jobs.It is fantastic news that unemployment levels have fallen below 9% for the first time since 2008. However, there are areas of the country that have not benefitted from the upturn in the economy. The regional action plans have the potential to help towns like Ballinasloe, the Cathaoirleach's own town of Castlebar and other towns in the west. I would like a debate in this Chamber on those action plans.

Joining the Cathaoirleach's welcome to the students from Castlebar, I welcome two visitors from Ballinasloe who are in the Visitors' Gallery today, Dan Dowling and Willie Ward.

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