John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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402. To ask the Minister for Health the provisions being made to address the staff shortages in the emergency department at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30074/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government is fully aware of the difficulties and challenges that are currently faced by all hospital staff, including nurses and midwives, in delivering care in the hospital setting. I am aware that nursing staff working in University Hospital Kerry Emergency Department engaged in a lunchtime protest last week. I understand that this was to highlight their concerns in relation to overcrowding in the Emergency Department and its impact on patient care.

At a national level, there is an agreement in place in relation to Emergency Departments, which was brokered through the Workplace Relations Commission. HSE management and officials from my Department recently (27th June) engaged in a conciliation session with the INMO on implementation of this agreement. The outcome of this conciliation was that HSE and the INMO re-affirmed its commitment to fully comply with all aspects of the Agreement.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.