Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend my colleague, Deputy O'Reilly, on her excellent ongoing work on this issue. Nurses and midwives play a very positive role in the health services. They are at the front line and often deal with very difficult situations. Nurses are sometimes expected to be almost social workers and counsellors in addition to their healthcare role, since people often open up more to nurses or to ask them questions because they feel more comfortable with them. They have to deal with all that, as well as delivering healthcare. There are many valid criticisms of our health service but when people actually access health services, one will often hear them speak of how the nurses were fantastic and did a great job, and how amazing it is that they are doing it under current conditions.

I have had many personal experiences with nurses and midwives in St. Luke's General Hospital in Carlow and Kilkenny. I want to note how excellent they were. I spent last Christmas in hospital with my son and cannot commend them enough on all their work and the support and care they showed, particularly to a child at Christmas. They were absolutely fantastic.

The work is demanding and often thankless and nurses deserve better working conditions and pay. As Deputy Adams noted, the workforce is over 90% female and I also wonder if that plays a role in their treatment. Action speaks louder than words. I call on the Minister to take action on this issue and give nurses and midwives the recognition, respect, working conditions and the pay they deserve.

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