James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

These nurses work alongside colleagues and perform the same duties and have the same responsibilities and level of accountability, yet they have no pension, sick pay or maternity leave entitlements. Now they do not even have a decent wage. I ask the Minister to bring to bear some logical thinking on the issue of the employment of nursing staff. I am certain that he cannot see any benefit in putting in place an embargo on employment only to spend three times the amount on the employment of temporary staff.

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