Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The National Implementation Body met recently to discuss the difficulties between the Department of Health and Children, the Health Service Employers' Agency and the Irish Nurses Organisation in regard to the full implementation of the health care assistants' programme. Part of the recommendations, as the Taoiseach will be aware, was the establishment of a high level group representative of the main interest groups, including An Bord Altranais, to examine the outstanding recommendations contained in a report termed the Effective Utilisation of Professional Skills of Nurses and Midwives and that such work should be finished by September 2005. Was that high level representative group set up and, if so, is it currently carrying out that analysis? Does the Taoiseach expect it will have concluded its business by September of this year? Does he consider any further action needs to be taken at this point by the National Implementation Body? Does he have information as to how many cases that body considered during the past 12 months?

In respect of the threatened strike of nurses intended to take place in June but which was averted once the pay increases of between 3.5% and 5.5% were not withheld and were paid by 1 June, does the Taoiseach consider the issue of acuity recognition in terms of the degree of pressure, stress and responsibility with which various aspects of the nursing profession have to deal should be considered under the benchmarking process?

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