Mr. Kevin Figgis:

We have spoken already this morning about the differentiation of the grades of staff within the scheme. That needs to change as a priority.

I think colleagues have also made reference to the general need to improve the issue of security within the health service. Security is at an absolute minimum. Some of these health locations are vast and the number of security personnel put in place just totally inadequate to deal with whatever will happen. People will be on rounds and so on. There is no doubting that that has to happen.

One of the key things that has to happen is a general awareness campaign for the public. The HSE, the Department of Health and our unions should co-operate in telling the stories of some healthcare workers. We should tell the public what happens. Healthcare workers are healthcare workers because they want to help people who are, to use the phrase often used, "some of the most vulnerable in society", whether they have an intellectual disability, are elderly or need help. It could be somebody whose life is in danger because of whatever illness or whatever is happening to him or her at the time. The fact of the matter is that the one thing a health worker should not have to suffer is an assault. We have provided statistics related to paramedics arriving in an ambulance, getting out to see what the scene is, with somebody possibly lying on the ground etc., and being assaulted in the course of trying to help that person. It is absolutely incredible. One of the key things is that there should be a public awareness campaign. To be honest, there should be shaming of those who do that. I think that that can best be done by letting them know in a public campaign that that type of behaviour is not acceptable. It affects not only the healthcare worker but also his or her family and children.

It has an effect when a person comes home and says he or she was assaulted last night. It is totally unacceptable that this should happen. We have represented people, as I know other unions have, where what has happened to them has absolutely devastated their lives, because nobody expects it.