Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I know this is a very sensitive issue, and I commend the motion and the proposers of motion, but I cannot help but think about the underfunding of the health service, particularly at a time of surplus. I cannot let the opportunity pass without criticising the decision to underfund the health services at a time of surplus. It is morally wrong. The hospitals named in the motion would probably love the opportunity to invest in improving services such as this and provide scalp cooling therapy during chemotherapy. I call on the Minister to reverse the decision to underfund the health service and the recruitment freeze that has been triggered by the Government's underfunding of the health service. Seven thousand posts have just vanished. This recruitment freeze will see our dedicated staff pushed to work in increasingly unsafe and unsustainable conditions.