Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the representatives of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation who are in the Gallery for this debate.

I was in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, this week to visit a former Teachta Dála, Paddy Agnew from Louth, who has been waiting for more than a month on an appointment to the National Rehabilitation Hospital. The National Rehabilitation Hospital is seriously under-resourced. I have raised this with the Minister. Paddy spoke to me of the great work being done by the nurses and other health workers. I am sure he speaks for the vast majority of patients and that has also been my experience. I commend, acknowledge and thank nurses and other health nurses for their great service to society.

There is a crisis in our health service, we all recognise that. Nurses and midwifes are in the front line of this crisis, trying to ensure that sick citizens are properly cared for in a safe environment. This crisis exists at all levels from emergency departments, elective surgery, waiting lists and the recruitment and retention of nurses and midwives.

Last month saw the highest ever number, more than 10,500 citizens, of patients on trolleys. Nursing and midwifery staff make up 33% of the public health workforce and the profession is predominantly female. I often wonder if they were male, would they be treated as badly. As Deputy O'Reilly noted, they work longer hours than nurses and midwifes in other states like Britain and Canada and have much worse terms and conditions. It is no wonder that there is a high turnover rate among nursing staff or that almost 80% of student nurses are considering emigrating for better pay and working conditions.

The Government recently published its framework for safe nurse staffing and skill mix, which is based on international research and was piloted in three hospital sites, including Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. However, it means nothing unless the necessary investment is made to provide for the recruitment and retention of nurses and midwives, including an agreement with the unions on full pay equality.

  It is time for real action, decisive action, to resolve the crisis in our health services. The Government should agree with the unions realistic proposals for recruitment and retention of nursing staff and midwives, a roadmap on how to achieve full pay equality and an independent commission on nursing. We need a plan to attract students to the nursing and midwifery profession in the face of global competition. This means addressing the key issues of working conditions, facilities, supports, training opportunities and pay. That what this motion sets out. I commend it and Deputy O'Reilly on tabling it.

See this speech in context