Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I thank the Minister for her reply, although it does not bring us very far. The Minister will recognise the health service is still in crisis. Only today we received notification from Beaumont Hospital that the much-vaunted accident and emergency strategy simply is not working. At one point this morning there were 52 people waiting on trolleys and chairs in the accident and emergency department at the hospital, which is the highest figure ever.

Does the Minister accept that, where nurses are working in these conditions, she needs to take note that the almost 100% response to the ballot carried out by the Irish Nurses Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses Association was for industrial action, and that this is such an overwhelming vote her reply is an inadequate response? Is the Minister stating this matter can only be progressed through the benchmarking process? It seems a more imaginative approach is needed if we are not to see many difficulties being created in the health service by people who, as everybody recognises, do tremendous work, often in stressful conditions. Nurses do not lightly take industrial action, yet in this case they have overwhelmingly decided to take industrial action.

What is the precise approach the Minister is taking? Is it only through benchmarking or is the Government considering alternative means that may lead to some resolution to this very serious situation?

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