Is the Taoiseach aware that there are now more than 30 vacant posts at Mallow Hospital? Is he aware that surgeries had to be cancelled at that hospital a few weeks back? Is he aware that the staff shortages that caused this were only sorted out by moving staff from CUH to plug the gap? Does he think this is any way for a hospital to be run? I want to support both the INMO and Fórsa, which are balloting their HSE members nationally for industrial action against the pay and numbers strategy that is suppressing thousands of hospital jobs across the State. I also call on the community in Mallow and communities nationwide to give full support to health service workers if and when industrial action is taken. Their fight is our fight. We want a better health service for all.

We all want a better health service for all, and that is what we are working for on a daily basis. That is why we provided the largest ever health budget, why we have the largest number of people ever working in the public service and why we provided funding for thousands more nurses, doctors and healthcare professionals in the HSE budget for 2025. In relation to the issue of Mallow Hospital, I will ask the Minister for Health to come back to the Deputy directly on that because we are increasing the budget for recruitment. I would also ask the unions to provide the Minister for Health with a list of the posts they believe were suppressed because he has written to them seeking that clarity and he has yet to receive it.