Dáil debates

Tuesday, 18 December 2018

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

 

3:15 pm

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, 95% of the members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association of Ireland, PNA, voted in favour of industrial action up to and including strike action in protest at the continuing recruitment and retention crisis in our health service. This morning, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, voted by a similar margin and its executive is to meet in early January to set in train a number of 24 hour stoppages. The threat of industrial action at any time is regrettable but there is no doubt that this is the outworking of the Taoiseach's policy and that of Minister for Health in tackling or not tackling the retention and recruitment crisis in our hospitals. This has happened despite nurses, midwives and their trade unions putting forward sensible proposals time and again and despite the House passing a Sinn Féin motion calling for a number of measures on recruitment and retention based on realistic pay proposals, which was about setting out a roadmap and working with unions to achieve full pay equality. Will the Taoiseach ensure the Government engages with the unions, nurses and midwives to ensure they get a fair deal and do not have to take strike action, for which they now given authority?

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