Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is important we have clarity and the facts in this House. The union representatives were adamant yesterday that these posts do not represent additional jobs as an instruction has been given to cut the number of agency nurses by 1,000. What this represents is the replacement of 1,000 agency nurses with 1,000 newly qualified nurses at a reduced rate. That is what is on the table. These are not new additional posts. That is the position. There is no point trying to confuse or mislead people on that fundamental point.

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