Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I commend the Psychiatric Nurses Association and other trade unions for their campaign on this issue. What is remarkable about their campaign is that they are incredibly reasonable. They are not even opposing the Minister's amendment, which, incidentally, I am opposed to on principle due to its reduction in sick leave entitlements. They are specifically zoning in on the retrospective aspect because it means people are being placed in an invidious position. The proposal is also particularly anti-women, which all of the trade unions I have met have highlighted.

I would like the Minister to explain the rationale for this. There is no clamour, no public campaign and no drive to have this done. It is a political choice the Minister has made. I saw him being lauded at the recent Labour Party conference in a speech by his party leader. I find this quite remarkable, given he has slaughtered public services, stood over 10,000 job losses in the public sector, refused to lift the recruitment embargo in areas like nursing and speech and language therapy, and is now going for people's sick leave entitlements. It is part of a gradual and continued erosion of the pay, conditions and entitlements of workers across the public and private sectors. This is neither good economics, good business or good public policy.

I urge the Minister to withdraw the amendment. I guarantee him there will not be one single objection from any Deputy in this House if he withdraws it. The reality is the Minister no longer has a bottom line. He will agree to anything. He can prove me wrong and withdraw the amendment.

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