Ms Phil Ní Sheaghdha:

We have written to the leaders of all the political parties setting out the comparison from the point of view of hours of work and responsibility versus salary. Unfortunately, in all cases nurses come out the worst . We have high responsibility, are on low pay and work long hours. That is the daily grind. When compared with teaching grades, gardaí and other allied health professionals, we would be considered to be on a par, but we are on in the region of €7,000 less and, in some cases, €12,000.