Compensation claims and Limerick hospital
The Leader addressed local authority insurance claims, saying the compensation culture needs to be reduced and funding has improved. He also welcomed the Limerick hospital investment and said he would invite the Minister to discuss post offices.
Surprisingly. I have reached 45,000 followers. The Taoiseach is absolutely brilliant. Up the Dubs.
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Senator Feighan asked where the Irish media were. We could debate the Irish media until the end of time but we will not do so today.
Senator Murnane O'Connor raised the issue of insurance and compensation claims that local authorities must pay, and mentioned that €63 million has been paid out by four local authorities. That is a large amount of money. In my own city of Cork and in County Cork there is a strong compensation claims culture. We need to eradicate such a culture. It is also important that we give local authorities the confidence to carry out work. Funding has been increased. I am happy to arrange a debate on the matter in this House.
Senator Higgins referred to the statements or comments made by the Minister for Social Protection. He is not the Taoiseach.
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The Minister expressed his personal view.
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Senator Byrne mentioned a briefing by University Hospital Limerick and the HSE. I join with her in welcoming the good news story in Limerick. I am sure that all Senators will join with me, including Senator Gavan, in welcoming the €850,000 investment in the surgical day care unit and the new emergency department. Both units will be fine additions to the hospital and will greatly benefit the people in the area.
Senator Conway made an interesting point about post offices having a new public service contract. I am happy to invite the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to the House to discuss the matter. It is important that we have certainty about post offices.
Senator Conway made an important point about unviable or unused post offices. We should have a conversation on how frequently we use post offices as a society. People talk about encountering faceless banks, particularly when lodging money into their bank accounts, either social welfare, wages or whatever. Perhaps we should reverse the trend away from automation and encourage people to use banks and post offices.
I join with Senator Devine in asking people to support the Irish Kidney Association and organ donation week. I am the former chairperson of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children that commissioned a fine report on organ donation. It recommended that we change the organ donation system. It is incumbent on us that we do so now, as a matter of urgency. As the Senator rightly said, it is wrong to have 600 people awaiting organ transplant when people can be given the gift of new life by people donating an organ. I hope that the Irish Kidney Association can work with all of us to change the system.
I am happy to accept the amendment to the Order of Business. I suggest, because of the Minister's schedule and our business, that we vote on the amendment to the Order of Business at 8.30 p.m. with one spokesperson per group.