Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Minister of State to take note of the emotional language used in the reply he gave. He indicated that departmental officials had engaged with Dublin City Council and the HSE on the back of the HIQA report. Why are they not engaging with the experts and professionals working at the coalface who know about value for money? They also know what response is needed for patients and their families in this city. Why did Dublin City Council use its reserved function to collapse the negotiations that had been taking place for two years? No explanation was given for the collapse of the talks in January. Trade unions cannot be prevented from using their strength and taking industrial action. The Minister of State has indicated that the expert panel report was examined. It is obvious that the expert panel was not listened to and that we are coasting along in the hope the issue will not be raised in this Chamber or resolved for the good of Dublin and society as a whole.