Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not entirely sure there were any questions there or solutions, just commentary. We have a mechanism by which industrial relations disputes are resolved - and all industrial relations disputes are resolved - namely, the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court. They are State bodies and that is the mechanism through which we will engage and, I have no doubt, in due course resolve this dispute.

I accept that recruitment and retention is a real issue for the nursing and midwifery profession but it is important to understand what that means and what it does not mean. The number of nurses working in the public health service has increased by more than 3,000 in the past five years since the recruitment embargo was lifted. The number of nurses working in the public health service in December 2018 compared with December 2017 is 860 higher. That does not include student nurses. The impression created by some that there are more nurses leaving the country than coming into the country is not correct. The impression created by some that there are more nurses leaving the public service than are entering it is also not correct. Those are the facts and I hope the Deputy will at least acknowledge them.

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