Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the recruitment figures the Minister mentioned. However, 2,000 fewer nurses work in the system than ten years ago. While we have increased the number, we are still behind where we were in 2008 and we have a long way to go.

The INMO general secretary has called on the Minister to engage in direct discussions with INMO members on this. I do not believe - I do not think the Minister believes - that nurses want to take industrial action. They feel they are being forced down this avenue and they are trying to reach a compromise solution with the Minister. They are asking for direct discussions within the current public sector pay agreement. There is no harm in accepting that offer of negotiation and at least sitting down to see if a solution can be found. If we do not find it, we are likely to see nurses on strike, possibly as soon as January.

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