David Cullinan

And I haven't seen that plan come from government and come from the minister.

So I'm conscious that there may well be some unintended consequences that have to be ironed out.

But let's have that discussion.

Let's see what the plan is.

Let's discuss a plan that can get us to a point where we can phase out these charges and get to a point where they don't exist for patients and for visitors and for staff.

I think it's a combination of those issues because we have similar problems at University Hospital Waterford.

So I have engaged with hospital management on this issue several times.

In fact, in Waterford, an underground car park was promised, which was never delivered.

So obviously, like any organisation, car parking spaces are premium.

They have to be obviously used for staff, but also for patients and visitors.

We have to make sure that we protect those spaces for those who need to use them in the hospitals, while at the same time trying to phase out

the car parking charges.

But my broader point is that we had a programme for government commitment to reduce the charges.

In fact, the former Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, had given a similar commitment.

I haven't seen any action and that's the problem.

So I don't know what plan exists or certainly I haven't seen one that even starts to reduce the charges.

I don't know if those discussions have taken place with hospital managers in relation to what unintended consequences they might raise.

But I know that there are issues and ways around this.

For example, you can validate car parking at receptions.

That happens in hotels.