Ms Martina Harkin-Kelly:

In addition, unlike the case in the medical profession, the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011 does not set aside studies times for nurses. Many of the nurses and midwives carry out ongoing and continuing professional development on their days off. The only leave they are given at present, and even that is being pushed, is for mandatory training. That is the reality of the vagaries that exist in the system.