Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I have three questions. You said that nurses want to take on new responsibilities and duties. What is stopping that? What is your view on the present arrangements, particularly in light of the fact that nurses will be leading on chronic disease management? Currently, that is proposed to be done by practice nurses. What is your view on practice nurses being employed by GPs? Is that the optimal way of providing that service? With regard to the recruitment and retention of staff, over the last few months the potential for having some type of scholarship scheme has arisen, whereby nurse training would be funded and, in return, nurses would commit to staying in the Irish system for three years or whatever other length of time. Do you have a view on that type of approach?