Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government has provided funding to take on 1,000 additional nurses this year.

The Government has had fruitful discussions on a range of issues in respect of recruitment and retention with the INMO. It was not possible to reach agreement on all issues. I note the comments of the Lansdowne Road agreement oversight group yesterday that both parties should now use the services of the WRC and I appeal to the INMO to enter talks at the WRC. Industrial action is not in the interests of anybody, nurses or patients, and the WRC is available. Health management is available to go to the WRC and I would urge the INMO to meet us there.

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