Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I just want the Taoiseach to comment on the matter. The Government is hurting two sectors of society by cutting the grants. Some €1.4 million this year after €3.2 million last year represents a significant cut.

The other promised legislation relates to young nurses. As the Taoiseach knows, the Minister for Health introduced his new programme, under which he wants new nurses to work for 80% of other nurses' pay. In other words, the days of same work for equal pay are gone under the Minister for Health. Recently, a sinister development has seen young nurses called into meetings and threatened that their contracts will not be renewed unless they are willing to accept the Minister's new scheme. This is wrong. I raise this matter under the welfare at work Bill.

See this speech in context