Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask for a debate on the Irish horticultural sector. It is the fourth largest agricultural sector in the country. In 2021, it had a turnover of more than €500 million and it directly employs over 6,000 people in the country. A KPMG report in 2022 on an overall strategy identified the issues and challenges for that industry. I would very much like the Minister to come to the House to outline what steps will be taken to support that sector and the industry to allow it to grow and not be at a standstill. Senator Murphy has also worked on this issue quite regularly. I am sure he will support this call because it is a highly important industry, no more for County Louth than for the entire country.

I again highlight an issue I raised as a Commencement matter yesterday regarding the emergency department at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. I asked for more investment, including more capital resources and human resources, in Drogheda hospital because it is overstretched. Yesterday, the hospital again issued a warning advising people not to come to the department because it is overstretched and could not handle it. It asked people to come only for serious emergencies. This is happening all too often. I call on the Department of Health and the HSE to come together to figure out a way to increase resources. They could maybe look at Navan hospital, or the minor injury unit in Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, to stretch and enhance the services so we are not constantly seeing a situation where people are being turned away and asked not to come to the accident and emergency department in Drogheda.