Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is my first time speaking in the House. I send my support, solidarity and love to the victims in Orlando.

This is carers' week. I acknowledge the hard work these people do day in day out, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, looking after their loved ones, and the struggle they have accessing facilities and resources. I also pay a tribute to the over 100,000 of my colleagues, nurses and midwives, of the entire island of Ireland. I thank them. I will miss them but I will be here to support nurses and midwives throughout my tenure.

A matter in Cloverhill Remand Prison has come to my attention. The prison has a dedicated psychiatric nursing staff to care for people placed on remand from remote courts all over the country during the night. They are often very disturbing cases and many involve mental illness. The nurses have an excellent record in not having to use special observation cells. They make the assessment immediately a person is admitted, realise what is needed and how much care and supervision is required. Fergal Black, the director of health for the Irish Prison Service, has decided to cut this night cover by 50%. This is outrageous and this House should support me in calling for the Minister to engage with the nurses and with Fergal Black to stop this proposed cut.