Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, for coming in to the House to respond to this topical issue.

In December 2015, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, the Psychiatric Nurses Association of Ireland and the SIPTU nursing unions concluded an agreement with the HSE and the Department of Health. The agreement was to restore recognition of the incremental credit for the 36-week clinical placement to all graduates since 2011, when it was stopped. However, as the Minister is aware, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform chose to amend this agreement to sanction recognition only for those currently on placement and future graduates. As a result, nurses who graduated between 2011 and 2015 will now be earning less than their colleagues who graduated before 2011 and the new 2016 graduates.

In reply to parliamentary questions on the matter tabled by me last week, the Minister stated that the question of extending the recognition to these nurses may be reviewed on foot of consideration of whether the sanction granted would result in an increase in recruitment and retention rates of training nurses in 2016 and 2017. How on earth does the Minister intend to measure this? The fact is that for the majority of recent graduates, full-time positions are simply not on offer. Consequently, the Minister's strategy cannot accurately gauge the effectiveness of this measure to retain nurses in Ireland. Why is such a study necessary given that in the business case set out by the HSE and the Department of Health in favour of the 2015 agreement, it was acknowledged that restoration of the increment would aid in retention of graduate nurses, a problem the HSE was trying to grapple with at the time. This finding was further supported by a recent survey conducted by the Union of Students in Ireland. The survey suggested that the withdrawal of the incremental credit was a factor not only for those who had remained in Ireland and are now deciding to leave, but also for those who have left when it comes to deciding whether to stay abroad or come back home.

In recent briefings to Deputies, representatives from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, the Psychiatric Nurses Association of Ireland and SIPTU nursing unions raised the real prospect of a scenario whereby unless we take action now, we may not be able to ensure that the winter initiative beds will actually be opened and, moreover, that we will face spiralling overtime and agency costs. Given that we are currently spending in excess of €22 million on agency staff, should every effort not been made to retain the staff we currently have, and, thereby, demonstrate the value of their contribution to the health service? On the most basic level, this is where these measures falter. Nurses serve on the front line of our health service. Without their dedication and commitment to patients, our health system would simply cease to function. How can we expect them to believe they are valued when faced with such evident inequality in their treatment? The HSE has no issue with this. The Department of Health has no issue with this. Why is the Minister blocking this agreement?

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