Mr. Kevin Figgis:

In wider society we have seen a great change in the multinational nature of people and that is obviously benefiting our people and culture. The healthcare workforce is no different. For a long time our health services have benefited from people coming to Ireland from other nations, and training here or workinghere. I do not think there is a grade within the health service now that is not populated by a multinational workforce. Unfortunately, it is another part of this category of abuse that we are referring to. There is no doubting it. We have had those issues reported to ourselves, where people have been racially abused etc. It is not acceptable and it could be another aspect of that public awareness campaign we are suggesting should take place. We need to try to personalise the healthcare worker to the general public, and personalise the fact that this is what we are trying to do to help them, but these are the issues standing in our way. Whether that assault is verbal or physical it is unacceptable. I think that could play a part in that.