Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Senator Kyne's comments about the hospitality business, a matter I spoke about yesterday. I believe something will happen there. I know the Government is very conscious of the difficulties.

It is a great morning - I know the Leader will be very happy about this - because last night the Irish organisation, See Her Elected, scooped the award in the democracy category of the European Innovation in Politics Awards 2021. That group has significant connections with the midlands and west. It is a fantastic community-led rural initiative designed to support women in politics and in particular to get women into local and national politics. The entire team were there last night, including the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, from the Leader's party, Dr. Michelle Maher, Tara Farrell and Mairéad O'Shea. Some Senators will know Mairéad O'Shea who was my PA when I was a Deputy from 2016 to 2020 and was well known around this House. I am particularly happy about this award. I am sure everybody will join me in wishing the group well.

The neurology services at University Hospital Galway have only four specialist nurses but need about 12 or 13. It is causing considerable difficulties. There is a waiting list for neurology services of more than 24,000 as far as I know. University Hospital Galway takes many cases from the west and north west. If it had extra nurses it would alleviate much of the backlog of cases. I ask the Leader to send a note to the Minister of Health to find where the hold-up is. Those nurses need to be appointed as a matter of urgency and I hope it can be done.