Ruairí Ó Murchú
Louth · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“It was hardly a shock to me and many others that he decided that the simplicity that was asked for by Sinn Féin last week, such that we would consider preparations for Irish unity, was not acceptable. Most people would see this as a possibility, even those who do not necessarily like the idea.”
“I welcome that. I have spoken previously to the Minister about the necessity of providing Mr. Delaney's report on the incident to Natasha and the wider family.”
“We will all be very interested to see what the new circular is. The Minister of State said it will be announced in September. A needs-based system is what we need. I would like to think the young boy I talked about would be able to avail of this. I will use him as an example. The correct assessments were carried out.”
“We just need to make sure that the circular is fit for purpose and that the young primary school child to whom I refer will be given the supports he requires. I will just finish reading from the communication to which I referred earlier.”
“We need to ensure that the engagement with Lebanon is ongoing. Are we happy with the interaction with the UN? There had been some issues relating to the coroner's court. Everyone needs to do everything that can be done to ensure truth and justice for the family of Private Seán Rooney.”
“I thank the Ceann Comhairle for all the flexibility she allows in this Chamber, and hopefully that will continue as we speak. I welcome an awful lot of what Deputy Devlin said.”
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“Indeed, there would. "Yippee KiYay", and all of that. That is the reality. I am not trying to make light of it. That was not going to happen in these sets of circumstances but it has happened to loads of people who work in the Irish film industry and that is not okay. This is not some industry that is operating away on its own independently. This is an industry that is rightly supported by the State. We need to find a mechanism whereby we continue with section 481 but we ensure that section 481 ensures there is the correct cultural output required and that we have a film industry that gives people the correct type of work, be they directly involved from in the crew or appearing in the set and being filmed.”
“Deputy Ó Snodaigh brought it and I have no doubt Deputy Boyd Barrett will as well. It is Christmastime. Could the Minister of State imagine if somebody was forced into a contract that meant that moneys that would be due to them were not due to them into the future and were owned by somebody else altogether and what should be theirs had been taken away from the point of view of their creative endeavours? Let us imagine that person was George Michael or Mariah Carey. They would be down a huge amount. While we are not quite sure that "Die Hard" is a Christmas film or not, if Bruce Willis had to sign away his residuals that would be very different.”
“If there is a particular issue and somebody needs that looked at, be it in relation to the working time directive or whatever, the fact is he or she might not necessarily get the phone call the next time. This is about ensuring workers' rights, which are taken for granted. I do not want to overegg it but we have used the analogy previously of the 1913 Lockout. People require to a call for a production and if someone makes a determination across the board that they or a number of their cohort have been involved in looking for rights for workers and ensuring that those rights are enforced, they might not get the call and the phone will not be as much use as it was beforehand. This is something that definitely needs to be looked at. An issue has been brought on multiple occasions relating to Irish Equity, copyright and so-called "residuals".”
“When we are talking about the European working time directive and ensuring its enforcement and other issues, they are not necessarily issues because the producer draws down the section 481 relief but the DAC is the employer. Unfortunately, I am almost like a broken record on this because this issue still has not been resolved. My big fear around this is workers highlighting how their rights have been overridden and even being blackballed. Blackballing can happen in the film industry a lot easier than in other industry because, even though for many years somebody could be in constant employment almost with the same production company, multiple DACs are formed for every film being produced.”
“That has been raised by Deputy Ó Snodaigh. I also have had many interactions on this particular point. Last week, Deputy Ó Snodaigh and I had an interaction with the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance on section 481, and Deputy Ó Snodaigh withdrew his amendment to the Finance Bill on the basis of a promise made to examine this properly. We have all seen the cases that have been before the courts on the specifics of who is an employer. When a film is being created, a designated activity company, DAC, is put into operation. The DAC lasts for the entirety of the film but the fact is it is the employer but then it disappears.”
“We all love the idea of a thriving Irish film industry, whether we look at it, historically, through the likes of "My Left Foot" and "In the Name of the Father" right through to "Kneecap" and "An Cailín Ciúin", a lot in between and many smaller enterprises. We all should take great pride in this. We are only too delighted if section 481 is used as a means of enhancing the film industry and ensuring that we continue with this and we can improve upon it. When we talk about the cultural test that is meant to be implemented and we look at the industry that we should have, we all would like to say that there would be some sort of State buy-in and, beyond that, that we would ensure that we would have a well-looked after and well-paid professional workforce that also ensures the sustainability of the film industry.”
“I would find it very difficult to talk about nuclear power without dealing with the issues of nuclear waste and talking about Chernobyl and Sellafield. However, we should be a wind power superpower at this stage rather than just using the term in this building. That has not happened and the reason it has not happened is that we have not got to grips with infrastructure, and the proposals today are just proposals. We will see how long it takes in relation to legislation but we need to see huge moves. People are suffering and we need to see delivery rather than just conversation.”
“We have a Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, that does not have the powers it should have. We need to make sure we get all the information in relation to energy companies and that we do not just hear about hedging in a very generalised way. We need to get greater detail. The powers need to be provided. We need to deal with the issues of standing costs and network costs, and we really need to put pressure on energy companies that have absolutely gouged. This should not be a shock, however. As Deputy O'Rourke said, we absolutely failed to bring in windfall taxes when we had the crisis three years ago. It should have happened there and then. We are going to talk about new energy sources. I have no problem in relation to having conversations on whatever technology.”
“The argument for them was much stronger on the basis of the information the Government had, which was received through freedom of information by Lynn Boylan MEP. We would all prefer if this was not the way we had to get information. I would like to get a bit more information about the targeted energy scheme plan the Government was looking at, but there is no sign of it. I believe the terminology that has been used is that it would not be in the public interest to share this information. The people who cannot afford to pay their bills and those who are suffering even more as it gets colder are not going to be too impressed with that. We have to deal with the reality. In fairness, many have spoken about some of the issues that could be dealt with around why we have such huge energy costs.”
“When we are dealing with energy costs, we can start at a fairly obvious place. There are 180,000 in arrears on their gas bills and 300,000 homes in arrears on their electricity bills. That is 13% of households who cannot afford electricity and 26% who cannot afford gas. That is the reality. It would not be difficult for anyone to find out that people are facing severe issues related to this. It is not really shocking that the Government had information indicating people were facing into even greater costs than they were last year. We have all heard the figure of €321. That is a hell of a lot of money per year if you do not have it. We know where the State has absolutely failed. Energy credits were used and people understand how they work.”
“There are only two set-down spaces for minibuses and there is a need for five as there are five autism spectrum disorder, ASD, classes and there is not even room for a full-size 52-seater bus to turn. There are 21 spaces for staff and there is a need for something closer to 40.”
“We all accept there are huge issues with bureaucracy and red tape in planning. We should have seen simplification and streamlining. Conversations about this are occurring across Europe, but we know about the home-grown issues. It is an issue I have brought up previously, even within the planning systems involving State authorities. For example, Louth County Council is involved in the Ardee Education Together National School build and a particular issue has arisen. We do not have enough agility in the system. Multiple requests have gone in stating that there are not enough parking spaces. There are 21 spaces, including three disability spaces.”
“I would ask about the engagement around producing a framework that will actually deliver for families like these that have been failed and that Britain does not walk away from its role and its dirty war that it fought in Ireland.”
“We are coming up to the 50th anniversary of the Dundalk bombing, which happened on 19 December 1975. Dundalk lost Hugh Watters, who was a local tailor and a well-respected man, and Jack Rooney, a fireman and a man who worked for the council. Obviously, this was devastating for their families. A memorial event has been organised by the families. It is going to happen near the courthouse, where there is a plaque, at 6.15 p.m. on Friday, 19 December. I think it is very important that we commemorate this 50th anniversary. It was the same night as the attack on Donnelly's Bar in Silverbridge where three people were killed. This was carried out by the Glenanne gang. We know this was a UVF gang which had members of the UDR and the RUC within it and obviously, the British state was up to its neck in relation to it.”
“I will finish by thanking those in the Boyne Fishermen's Rescue and Recovery Service and Dundalk Sub Aqua Search and Rescue, whose members step in at times for necessary rescue operations and necessary work that needs to be done when somebody is missing, sometimes because the State is not there to do it. We have a wonderful service in the Coast Guard search and rescue that is necessary and we are not looking after them. It is an abject failure of the Minister and Government. We need to see some real action and real accountability. This is a demand we will not be walking away from.”
“It is responsible for contracts and it is responsible to the people for ensuring we look after the safety of those who need to be rescued in terrible circumstances that we all wish could be avoided and those who put their lives at risk daily. We would expect that when they do that for us and the State, we could at least have their backs. I request that there be an element of accountability. I imagine we are far too late in this case and the decision has been made. However, I ask that the disgraceful amendment the Government has put forward be removed and that we have a real conversation about an issue these search and rescue crews are very worried about. It is a disgrace. We need to see action straight away. I think it is the first time I have said this in the House but I do not have words.”
“There is not doubt that there is an issue in relation to the European working time directive and the fact that these people are being absolutely hammered in relation to basic workers' rights that have been won across the board. As Deputy O'Reilly said, we have an industrial relations framework that the Government constantly argues is there to facilitate this. I have no doubt that Deputy Joanna Byrne is correct that the Government facilitated this and allowed it to happen because it is a very small cohort of workers, but one that does spectacular work that we and the State need them to do. Government loves having things at a remove, be it the local authority that can be blamed, be it the HSE, be it the Irish Aviation Authority or be it Bristow Ireland. However, the fact is that the Government is responsible.”
“There is a necessity that we have the Minister in front of the transport committee in relation to this to provide answers, not some sort of cop-out that he has no role in regulatory oversight. The buck stops with him, simple as that. The Irish Aviation Authority also needs to be in front of the committee, as does Bristow Ireland which has come up with these wondrous shift changes. What are we talking about? On the recording of 24-hour shifts, that is 24-hour continuous duty periods. As many have said before, this is not in a person's house. This is people being accommodated because they are at work. They need to be ready to launch at any time. We know the danger we are talking about in relation to what we require these people to do.”
“It is hard to believe we are here dealing with this issue. Sometimes, when a issue comes to a politician it shows the abject failure across the board. In many instances we are talking about individual cases where the State has failed. We are talking about the Coast Guard search and rescue. Ask anybody on the street what that means and they will say it is people who go above and beyond, who are risking everything. We know what happened with the serious loss of Rescue 116. We lost Dara Fitzpatrick, Mark Duffy, Paul Ormsby and Ciarán Smith. That is the reality of the danger that these crews face every day of the week. I thank Deputies McGuinness and Cullinane in particular for bringing forward this motion. I will follow up on what Deputy Cullinane said.”
“We really and truly need to deal with the issues the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, laid out himself and we have to look after these people because they have been dealing with failure after failure. Whether it is Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, those in Deputy O'Reilly's constituency, my constituency or Deputy O'Rourke's constituency, we need to look after them with 100% redress and a scheme that works, and not leave people out of pocket. Most people do not have the €50,000 or €60,000 that is needed because this scheme is not, at this point in time, fit for purpose.”
“Can we make a serious attempt to get this done so we stop failing the people of the counties that have been spoken about? Can we also ensure the likes of my constituents in Louth are facilitated, and that people are not looking at cracks that become even bigger cracks and houses that are not in any way safe and secure? In fairness, I was very taken with what Deputy Charles Ward had said about doing something very nice for his kid by putting up the Christas lights and then all of a sudden, dealing with the reality of the defective block crisis, tragedy and disaster. In fairness, like Deputy O'Reilly said, it was brought on by this Government's lack of regulatory systems going back over multiple years and now the lack of speed, efficiency and a scheme that will actually deliver.”
“The Minister of State could have listened to Deputies Rose Conway-Walsh, Pearse Doherty, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, Charles Ward or anyone. He could listen to his own constituents because I have no doubt, given the part of the world he is from, he has been inundated with people who have been dealing with their houses falling down for years. The Minister of State is right that all of this has taken far too long so it is absolutely vital that the work is done over the next couple of weeks. We should have been at this point earlier and we should, even at this point, have had a greater level of engagement with all the necessary stakeholders. We should not be looking at these problems still needing to be fixed but they do still need to be fixed.”
“Deputy Darren O'Rourke also spoke about that and I am going to add that I am aware of at least four cases in Louth. Louth County Council has been engaging with the Department and the Housing Agency. I think it believed at one stage there was an alternative methodology in dealing with such a low number but at this stage, the application is going in with regard to Louth being taken into this defective concrete blocks scheme. We would like that the scheme to provide what it should have in the beginning, which is 100% redress. We would like that there would not still be the issue in relation to caps and arbitrary dates, where if people have not paid the money between particular dates, they would not be covered. Even having regard to the slight improvements in the legislation, none of this is good enough.”
“The Minister of State accepted this is all taking far too long. He accepted that there are huge issues in relation to social housing, appeals and the standards review. We are where we are and we all accept that, as the people who are dealing with crumbling houses have to accept it. Nobody likes legislation that is dropped at the last minute without any possibility of proper scrutiny but, the fact is, if the Minister of State is talking about the next three weeks, the Government really has to be open to listening to the amendments that are being proposed to deal with the issues he spoke of himself and actually ensuring we deliver. A huge number of people and houses have been impacted in Donegal, Mayo, Clare, Limerick and Sligo. Deputy Louise O'Reilly spoke about the fact that she has constituents who need to be brought into this.”
“We need to make sure we are not back here at a later stage this year or next year, talking about numbers that are scaled up from what is abject and absolute horror.”
“I can accept that in public, the Government cannot say all that needs to be said. Whatever about in public, we must make sure that in private, in every corner where we have an ear that will listen to our voice, it is known that this is not acceptable. It is not acceptable to be facilitating the sale of gold, mining and human misery. I agree with an awful lot of what my colleagues have said. This will finish, and we need to ensure that those who have been engaged in this horror, this absolute butchery, are held to account. We need to make sure that whatever leverage we have is brought to bear on those powers that have facilitated this and on anyone else who will listen to us in the international community. We need to do this because these people have been through what none of us can imagine.”
“As to the absolute size of this, we have a considerable number of people who will talk about the issue in relation to migration. We have all spoken about the fact that we need systems that work, but just think about 12 million people forcibly displaced. How will that not have an impact in relation to the rest of the world? It is a very much connected world. As we all know, the United Arab Emirates has been engaged in supplying weapons that have played a major part in the RSF's capacity and in its destruction of human lives and all the other horrors alongside that. This is a proxy war. There are supporters on both sides. I listened earlier to Deputy Ó Laoghaire's interaction with the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, on the need to see pressure being put on the United Arab Emirates.”
“An awful lot of the time, there have rightly been eyes on some of the other conflict zones but this has been missed out on. It is the depth, magnitude and size of the horror and chaos. What are we talking about? Some 12 million people have been forcibly displaced and 150,000 people have already been killed. Think about that and the impact on that part of the world. Think of the chaos that has been caused. Think of the individual lives that have been lost and the families that have been destroyed. That is before we get into the crimes that have been committed, particularly against women. I do not know how many times in history people said "never again", but unfortunately "never again" seems to actually mean "again and again and again", whether it was Rwanda 30 years ago, the Balkans, what Russia is doing in Ukraine or the genocide in Gaza.”
“Straight away, it is a necessity that we play our part in ensuring that aid workers and a sufficient amount of aid gets to people who are starving at this point in time. We need the SAF and RSF to facilitate this and to allow UN observers in. It is beyond a disgrace what is going on, if we are talking about the year-and-a-half siege of El Fasher. It is like hell on earth and as bad as any place you can think of since the Second World War after what has been done. The UN has rightly labelled it one of the worst humanitarian cases. Just look at the news. How bad does something have to be? We are talking about one of the worst humanitarian crises. We are talking about a war, a situation and a circumstance that we have been dealing with since April 2023.”
“Ar dtús, ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis an Aire Stáit as an bpost nua atá aige. Ádh mór air. Unfortunately, too many times, we have been in this Chamber while speaking about what we would have assumed was almost in the rear-view mirror of history. However, it seems that whether you look at Gaza, the Russian invasion of Ukraine or what is happening in Sudan, it is geopolitical chaos and could be the annals from the worst parts of global history. The fact is we have seen a move away from multilateralism, international law and the righteousness of international law. At some point, we will need to see the pendulum come back to a more sensible place but at the minute, the people of Sudan cannot afford to wait on that.”
“It is the one thing we can do. We need to end this argument in relation to legal matters. As I said, it is about the fact that we are doing this alongside others. This will have an impact. The reason there is a peace plan is that even Donald Trump did not like the idea of what the Israelis were doing, and the killing children and innocent people.”
“Not only do we need the maintenance of the ceasefire and to make sure there are no breaches but we also have to maintain whatever leverage we and the wider international community can on Israel. At this moment, we are somewhat glad it is not engaged in genocidal action but let us be absolutely clear it is determined, at least the regime at this point is, to make sure nobody can deliver justice, freedom, self-determination for the Palestinian people and a two-state solution. The fact is this is one of the few things we can do. We need to make sure we maintain whatever pressure we can. The EU-Israel Association Agreement is a blemish and a further disgrace in relation to how the European Union has dealt with this whole genocidal nightmare for the Palestinians. Equally, we need to move on the occupied territories Bill.”
“As much as we need to push the EU, we also have to do the work we can do ourselves. Even though it is not everything, it would be good if we could publish the Attorney General's advice, so we could end that particular argument. We really need to see the occupied territories Bill enforced in full. As much as it might not have the impact that people talk about, in terms of it not having an absolutely spectacular impact, it is part of what Spain and Slovenia are doing, and it is similar to what happened with South Africa. I doubt that the action of the Dunnes Stores workers had a real financial impact but it was part of something wider and it made a huge difference in the long term. We need to be part of doing this.”
“Go raibh maith agat, agus comhghairdeachas leis an Aire ar a post nua. Straightaway, we can all see there were particular issues in relation to the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and not only in the sense of the particular deal that was really sweet from the Israeli point of view. We talk of these humanitarian conditions but obviously there was absolutely no power in relation to enforcement. Unfortunately, there was also a lack of will across the European Union. I welcome that we and others have pushed in relation to this matter. I do not think it is an issue we can let slide. While we have a peace plan, it is a peace plan in which Palestinians will suffer. We have seen that the Israeli regime is absolutely determined to ensure there is no two-state solution.”
“Go raibh maith agat. I ask the Minister to provide an update on any engagement at EU level on the EU-Israel agreement. We all know the humanitarian conditions that unfortunately have never been employed. We know what Israel has done. We know that maximum pressure and leverage need to be applied. We know that is probably the only reason we have a peace plan, if we can call it that, at this point in time. I would also like to get an update, and I understand the Minister did speak about this earlier, in relation to the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (prohibition of importation of goods) Bill. Again, however, it is not much good unless we do the job properly and that it happens quickly, with services included as well.”
“We are dealing with a scenario where there is no real application at this point in time. Again, there are disputes even regarding what agreements have been made in the industry and who has a right to make an agreement. That is for another day. Whatever happens with this amendment, we really need to deal with this particular issue. We need to make sure we have a sustainable film industry and that means we have to look after workers' rights. We need to make sure people are not being forced into scenarios where they are signing away their residuals. We are talking about rights and ensuring we have people who we want to see in the creative process. At this point in time I have real deep worries. We need to make sure we find the means of dealing with this.”
“In fairness, Deputy Ó Snodaigh has synopsised well. A designated activity company is set up. It might be the same producer. Those involved may employ the same people for a number of years but they are seen as the employer and then they suddenly disappear. Therefore they cannot be held to account. I have outlined the particular issue is if somebody does try to raise a head of steam on issues that might pertain to the ratio or the work practices. We want to make sure we have decent work practices and that we ensure the product delivered is good and ensures a sustainable film industry. We need to find a means of dealing with this. We cannot have a scenario of people being blackballed when just looking for the enforcement of their rights. Deputy Ó Snodaigh referred to disapplication.”
“We cannot have a case of too many people taking too many shortcuts and actually undercutting the industry and undercutting the rights of workers in delivering this. I would like to think that there would be a decent hearing of this amendment and that we would look at it as a possible solution - a small solution - in relation to the particular issues we are talking about. A wider conversation is needed and there is an absolute need to look at section 481 from the point of view of securing workers' rights and making sure we have a sustainable and thriving film industry that works for all involved into the future. I would have serious concerns. This issue has been brought up many times before and has not been resolved yet.”
“The idea is that the person who shouts too loud and looks for their rights too much will not get the phone call. The belief is that there is a serious issue with blackballing and that needs to be dealt with. The whole idea with section 481 is that we have a thriving film industry that provides really good employment where people have their absolute rights. If we do not do that, we will have an issue with the product that is produced. There have also been complaints about the ratio of those who are in training to those who have a huge amount of experience. We have heard of instances where reshoots have had to be carried out, sometimes even abroad. Section 481 will always be worthwhile, but the State needs to ensure that we are getting a bang for our buck and that the film industry is protected.”
“A particular issue relates to who can be chased down or held accountable about workers' rights. This is probably being rectified at this point in time through these court cases but I believe the State needs to make sure it steps in to ensure that workers' rights are upheld and that the working time directive and other workers' rights, which were hard fought for, are enforced when to a degree there is nobody to hold accountable to enforce them. That particular issue needs to be dealt with. As others have, I have used the analogy of 1913 in the sense that this is a case where if somebody is to be employed, a head of department - I think that is the term - makes the call. Deputy Ó Snodaigh and I have had a number of meetings with those who have been aggrieved in relation to this.”
“Particularly when we are talking about writers and those who have been involved in the creative process, we need to ensure they are not forced into foregoing rights that they should have and they should not forego moneys and remuneration that should be due to them. I have made the case many times before and I will reiterate it. We need to look at the whole sphere in relation to section 481. We all see the positives but we have all heard many cases of how people basically get employed. There have been many court cases over when an employer is not an employer. That is when it becomes a designated activity company, DAC. The whole idea is that the producers draw down the section 481 relief but then a DAC is formed and it exists for the period of the project.”
“Ar dtús guím ádh mór ar an Tánaiste ina phost nua. Dúirt an Teachta Ó Snodaigh an fhírinne gur post an-tábhachtach é. I am speaking in support of Deputy Ó Snodaigh's amendment. I, Deputy Ó Snodaigh and a number of other Deputies, including Deputy Boyd Barrett, have spoken over many years about section 481. As positive as it has been in providing tax credits and ensuring we have a thriving film industry, there are particular issues with workers' rights and copyright. We believe we need to look after those who work to make films happen. We are talking about cast, crew and writers.”
“The National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 was launched with great fanfare but we await the action plan. There is much talk of accountability. Will the Taoiseach give me a timeline for the introduction of that action plan? Who will be taking the lead, particularly with regard to oversight and accountability? Will it be the unit, the Cabinet committee or the Department of Children, Disability and Equality? How exactly will it work? How will we see improvements, whether in relation to assessments and therapies or the low level of disabled people who are involved in employment and the need for schemes that actually work? A lot of work is needed to make schemes such as the wage subsidy scheme and the work and access programme fit for purpose.”
“There has been an abject failure to do so and we cannot just wait until everybody gets on together. We need to prepare now and the onus is on the State to do it.”
“I have often brought up the positives regarding the shared island unit. I believe the project in relation to DkIT and its partnership with Queen's University Belfast could fit into that. However, a number of other issues arise, whether we are talking about the remote working issues that have an impact on taxation or exam certification. In fairness to Deputy McGreehan, she has brought up the issue of the disparity regarding fuel. I have spoken before about the need for some sort of means of putting these issues on the agenda properly and dealing with them. We have made the call for a long time to get down to the issue of constitutional change and the need for a means - call it a citizens' assembly or a forum - by which this conversation can happen. The State must properly prepare for Irish unity.”
“It means capacity is going to be lost in relation to providing ultrasounds in the Louth County Hospital in Dundalk, and we as a State will end up paying a huge amount of money to a third-party operator to deal with this backlog.”
“The Minister of State said in his reply that: The Minister has also been advised by the HSE that the clinical specialist radiographer will be primarily based at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda [that is the shooting match] with integrated managerial and clinical governance responsibilities across Louth County Hospital. As I said, it is very easy to talk about integrated management. The fact is that is closer to the answer. I ask that the Minister of State go back to the Minister for Health. We are getting closer to an answer, but I think those who have applied for the job need to get it. I am not particularly happy that this position has been lost. It is not best practice.”
“However, my fear was that the position in Louth County Hospital, which is absolutely necessary, has been taken away and a means has been used to fill a different position in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda. We are going to talk about integrated management systems and so forth, but all I can say is that is absolute cover. I still hear that 30 November is the application deadline. I would love to see where this job is actually being advertised because those who applied for the initial job were basically told informally that it was not going ahead. However, they were given no absolute formal indication in relation to another job for which they could apply.”
“I could contest the numbers in relation to the ultrasound waiting lists at Louth County Hospital. I have been told they are considerably higher than ten. At this point, we do not have that one person who was actually working 100% on this and doing what is absolutely necessary from the point of view of due diligence and best practice supervising. In fairness, I get that the Minister of State is providing information that has been provided to him, and that we have got closer to the answer. Initially, the answer I was being given was that everything is fine and this clinical specialist radiographer position is going ahead and the date is 30 November.”
“Will there be a clinical specialist sonographer and ultrasound post in the Louth County Hospital in Dundalk? How can the HSE say there is no impact on the public when the waiting list surged to 7,000? Why have the applicants not been contacted properly and formally? Why does no one at a management or HR level at the hospitals in Dundalk or Drogheda know about the 30 November deadline?”