Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleague, Deputy Donnelly, for putting forward the motion. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is correct that the motion is narrowly tailored, but if what we are calling for was accepted by the Government, it could have a significant impact on this industrial relations dispute. Our motion states we agree that the strike is not in the best interests of patients but, as it notes, it is shocking that no substantive engagement has taken place, which needs to happen. I strongly urge the Minister to begin that engagement, listen to what nurses are saying and talk to them. In industrial relations, there is always room to talk, which I strongly encourage the Government to do.

The Minister has come to the Chamber with smooth mood music, but the truth is that some of his colleagues have not acted the same way, and they have set bad mood music for the strike by immediately attacking the INMO instead of leaving the industrial relations process to run its course and the Government to talk. The backbenchers attacked the nurses, as did the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty. Whatever about their views, misrepresenting on television what nurses were saying is not helpful to the process. Rather, it would be helpful if the Ministers for Public Expenditure and Reform and Health set in motion what our motion demands, which Deputy Donnelly reasonably asked for.

Nurses are hard-working, and those who work in hospitals do not usually have breaks because they are simply unable to take them. Those who work in residential care units do not have any break in their 12-hour shift. They go into work early and leave late because they must hand over, for which they are not paid in some cases, and they must work unsocial hours. They know they signed up for that but the State needs to recognise that.

Tá mé anseo chun tacaíocht a thabhairt don rún seo. Níl ach dhá rud á lorg againn: go mbeadh coimisiún, agus breitheamh i gceannas air, curtha in áit chun dul i ngleic leis an bhfadhb seo; agus go mbeadh cainteanna idir an Rialtas agus na banaltraí agus na ceardchumainn. Sa chaoi sin, is féidir réiteach ar an bhfadhb seo a fháil agus is féidir a chinntiú nach mbeidh stailc ar siúl ag deireadh na míosa seo.

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