The Government must explain to the public what it is doing to address the dangerous staff shortages in our health service. The situation has gone beyond crisis point when midwives in Tipperary University Hospital have issued a warning that staff shortages are causing risks to the safety of women and their babies. INMO members working in the maternity department have formally written to the management at the hospital stating they cannot be held accountable or responsible for any adverse event that might occur. We have reached an alarming situation where nurses in the hospital are in fear of being blamed for unfortunate outcomes caused directly by gross understaffing. The greatest asset of any organisation is its people. The provision of healthcare simply cannot function safely without sufficient staff. The serious staffing problems at Tipperary University Hospital's maternity unit need to be addressed urgently.

I thank the Deputy. We are actively recruiting people for our health service domestically and abroad. Approximately 130,000 or 135,000 people work in our health service, which is more than ever before. There are 81,000 nurses and midwives, which is more than ever before. We have never had more doctors or consultants working on our health service than is the case now. This, of course, comes against a backdrop of a rising population, increasing medical needs and a move towards shorter hours and more part-time work. We are doing everything we can to recruit and we are seeing some success in this regard. With regard to Tipperary specifically, I do not have information but I will follow it up through my office to see whether we can get more information to provide the Deputy.