Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join colleagues in expressing condolences for our colleague, Senator Paul Daly, and also for my colleague, Senator Jerry Buttimer, on the death of his father-in-law. I wish to have those recorded.

Today is national self-harm awareness day. It is important to put it out there in regard to the stigma about self-harm and the fact there are organisations such as Pieta House and the Samaritans out there. It is also national eating disorder week. It started on 28 February and runs until 6 March. They both have a common link and are in many cases associated with mental health.

Once again I want to raise the fact that University Hospital Limerick, UHL, is the most overcrowded hospital in the country. In February it was two people short of 1,500 people on trolleys, waiting for beds. The INMO has come out again today highlighting this problem at University Hospital Limerick. I raised the issue here last week and the Leader's response made the headlines on our local radio station. It was up there on a podcast. Something has to happen. The INMO will come before the Joint Committee on Health next week. Serious questions have to be asked because it is not just about the patients, it is also about the staff and working conditions there. Last weekend UHL actually asked people not to go to the hospital. That is not acceptable. It is not a right message to be sending out. There are people who have minor injuries, and while there is a minor injuries clinic, people need to be able to avail of the services of the hospital in an appropriate manner.