We are now five months into 2024 and the health service still has not published its staffing plan for the year. The Secretary General of the Department of Health confirmed this morning that the moratorium or embargo is still in place and that the strategy is at a political level waiting on a decision from Government. I have lost count of the number of bright, talented young health and social care graduates who have contacted me about the Government's dangerous recruitment embargo. These include a pharmacist from Waterford, a paramedic from Dublin, a physiotherapist from Cork and experienced junior doctors, nurses and therapists. They are living abroad and looking to come home but there are no jobs on offer for them. The INMO has surveyed its membership and 92% believe that patient safety is being compromised because of the embargo. I urge the Taoiseach to lift this very dangerous recruitment embargo and to make that decision now.

I thank Deputy McDonald. As I have said in exchanges with her in the House before, the health service is funded to grow the number of staff this year and to hire more nurses and doctors. Yes, it has to live within its overall workforce ceilings. Of course, it does. All public agencies are meant to. However, funding has been provided for 2,200 new people to work in the public health service, and that number increases to 3,000 when disability services are included.

I have also confirmed in the context of UHL emergency department, which Deputy McDonald raised with me previously, that EDs are exempt from any recruitment restrictions. I will seek clarity as to when the Minister intends to publish his plan.