Annie Hoey (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the House. We are rapidly hurtling into winter. It is getting chilly. We can see the numbers of people interacting with our health service. The health service and our hospitals are very busy every year, but this season will possibly be busier than we have seen before. Our system is going to be under enormous pressure because of the impact of the ongoing pandemic. People also have continuing regular healthcare needs.There is also a backlog which seems to be eternally growing.

Our health service is going to be under enormous pressure this year and while the Minister for Health may know what we may potentially be facing into, I am not sure that people do. I have family members and I know people who are working in healthcare and who are completely exhausted. They are incredibly tired. We have to be honest. We often use the phrase "perfect storm" in politics. We love talking about a perfect storm appearing but we do face the three things I have outlined with regard to what this winter is going to look like for those healthcare workers. Some people are saying that we have to use the measures we are talking about, looking at what happened last winter when numbers increase and it was very difficult. They say we have no choice. The flu will come back this winter. I am getting my flu vaccine next week. We could face an even more detrimental situation in our hospitals. I do not necessarily want to bring this to the Minister's mind; rather, I want to highlight it for others. We have healthcare workers who are still battling through and working. I have never seen a healthcare worker who was not tired but I have never seen the ones I know as drained of every last ounce of anything they have. The trolley watch figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation are particularly high. There were 35 people on trolleys in Cork University Hospital only a couple of days ago. I worry about what is going to come down the line with regard to hospital trolley numbers. Healthcare workers in particular are feeling the impact in this regard.

I know we are talking about extending the emergency regulations but I will speak about our winter plan because it is relevant. We do not have our winter plan yet. Last year, we had it in September. It is now November. Is there a date for when that winter plan will be released? It is already seven weeks later than it should be. When talking about the extension of powers, the necessity for that and healthcare services, it is very important that we also have other legislation and plans to back that up, such as our winter plan.

If we have to extend these measures, there are other things that we and members of the public have to do and other things that we, as legislators, need to look at. One of things that has come up a good bit is the issue of clean air and air quality. Ventilation is one of the issues which has been most under-assessed or underutilised in dealing with Covid, especially considering that it is an airborne disease. In conjunction with the extension of powers, do we have a regulatory proposal for the winter months regarding ventilation and clean air in workplaces as people go back to work? We are shivering in our offices because we have every last window open, but that is something we have taken on ourselves. Do we have a regulatory proposal? If we are telling people that things are deadly serious and that we must extend these extraordinary powers, they would probably like to see guidance and leadership in related areas.

I believe it was 24 May when we last discussed these matters. Many people talked about an analysis, review or report on these regulations and how they have been used. They talked about a sort of human rights analysis of the measures. I know we are saying these powers are not used very often but we are once again being asked to extend these extraordinary regulations, as we have been over the last 18-month period. The Minister said that they did not sit easy with him when he was last here to talk to us. We therefore have a responsibility to get a review of how, when and why they have been used. We are turning to the public and saying that we must take these measures but without being able to say how, when and why they are being used. The Minister must understand why that is causing frustration, annoyance and a sense of distrust.

We, as politicians, can get access to information through asking questions and so on. That is why we are here. However, it is important for members of the public to be able to understand how, when and why these regulations are being used. They have been more than understanding and more than willing to come with us. People have really put their best foot forward but, if we keep saying that we need a review as to how and why these powers are being used, there is an onus on us to be able to give a really comprehensive answer at some point. If - heaven and God almighty forbid - we find ourselves coming back here in February having to pass further legislation or regulation, it would be extremely difficult to say that we have to extend these regulations again without having engaged in some sort of analysis as to how and why they are used. I flag this issue because I mentioned it on 24 May.

As already stated, we recognise that these measures are extremely harsh and difficult. We hope that they will not have to be used. A colleague of mine said that, given the situation that is unfolding this winter, which mirrors the situation we saw last year, we may have no option but to use these measures but, as I have said, I believe the situation in our healthcare settings may be even more difficult. I again put it to the Minister that there are staff who are worked to the bone. I know there have been conversations about compensation and how they will be repaid but, if the winter we believe is coming does come, that conversation may need to be jogged on a little bit.

I will end with something I always talk about, the issue of our student nurses and midwives. If we are talking about extending these regulations because we are still in a crisis situation with regard to Covid, that means our hospitals are still in a crisis situation and that our student nurses and midwives are still working in a crisis situation. On 1 September, we ceased the €100 weekly payment. I know there is discussion about extending that and whether it will be put on the table again, but I will put it on the record today that, if we are extending these measures because there is an emergency situation, we need to recognise that our student nurses and midwives are working in that emergency situation. That €100 Covid payment needs to be continued for them.