Ms Phil Ní Sheaghdha:

Without offering platitudes to our members, the level of service and the mindset they bring to their daily work must be commended. They are extraordinary. Anybody who interacts with a nurse or midwife at work would readily say that they are extraordinary. They are very tightly scrutinised by professional bodies, HIQA, and their employers in an environment in which it is becoming impossible to guarantee safe care. They do extraordinary work every day.

Morale is very low and there is absolutely no doubt that burnout levels are increasing. The concern we have as a trade union representing nurses and midwives is that, despite the fact that all of the statistics and reports indicate this, the health and safety of the workers in the mix of a financial imperative for overspend in the health service is ignored and neglected. This is not in accordance with any health and safety provision in our legislation.