Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach is not contesting the fact that there is one application for every four nursing and midwifery vacancies in the health service. That is a fact too. The fact is that we train what are said to be the best, brightest and most capable nursing and midwifery staff and then we lose them, specifically to London, Canada and Australia. When one makes a pay comparison one must benchmark the pay rate here with those destinations. Nurses and unions have said loudly and clearly that there is an issue with pay. There is certainly an issue with pay equality and then there is the broader issue of pay if we wish to recruit and retain staff. The Sláintecare report will gather dust on a shelf somewhere unless there are the resources, human resources and the capital to make it a reality.

The report is being considered by the real experts. As we speak, the nurses are gathering in Croke Park and they will take a view on this report. In light of this, will the Taoiseach honour the motion passed by the Dáil, which called on the Government to engage with unions on the issue of pay and to do so in real terms in order that we can recruit and retain the best and, thus, deliver a first-class health service?

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