We still suffer the consequences of the decisions of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments to remove services from Monaghan hospital. I challenge anyone who doubts the consequences to have the misfortune of ending up in Drogheda or Cavan emergency rooms. Over the past five years, I, along with the local community, have been campaigning for the return of services to Monaghan hospital. We have had some success, particularly the increase in operating hours at the minor injuries unit. However, why are beds currently lying idle in Monaghan hospital? I am told there are currently seven closed in the Diamond ward. This is a ward with three rooms that are currently being used for storage space, I am told. The ward was opened to much fanfare. The then Minister announced that seven new beds were to open in Monaghan hospital when, in fact, there were only two additional beds; regardless, those beds are now unused, even as several families try desperately to secure a step-down or rehabilitation bed in Monaghan hospital. Will the Taoiseach intervene? I have asked questions to the Minister for Health and he has fobbed them off to the HSE, which has not answered me. Will the Taoiseach intervene to ensure Monaghan hospital is used to its full capacity and that every single bed space is utilised?

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and, indeed, acknowledging that we have seen an expansion of several services in Monaghan hospital. I take seriously the issue he has raised because the hospital does have an important role to play in the overall delivery of health services in the region. I have been in it myself and I will raise directly with the HSE and the Minister for Health the issue of the seven beds.

As we come into the middle of the winter, a most severe time for colds and flus, a special effort might be made to ensure that people, particularly the vulnerable, who may have been through Covid or have had flu experiences, will avail of opportunities to get their shots for Covid and flu as soon as possible.

I thank the Deputy. That was an important, timely and seasonal reminder. I was in a number of pharmacies over the past couple of weeks and saw that some were participating in the roll-out of the vaccination programme, along with GPs, health clinics and the like, and in reaching to a number of services. That is really important. The more people who get vaccinated in advance of the flu season, the better. It will certainly stand to them. However, it will not stand to them alone; it will also stand to the population at large. Therefore, I encourage people to get themselves vaccinated.