Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The HSE has confirmed that 50,000 patients have been affected by the two-day strike action so far this week. All outpatient, inpatient and day surgery appointments for today have been cancelled. Other planned admissions including respite care and rehabilitation to community nursing units, including for people with intellectual disabilities, have been cancelled. Vulnerable people are losing out. The Government must engage with the nurses. All I hear from the Government is that it is disappointed that further strike action by the INMO is going ahead but the strike will be sorted out. The INMO stated that it is disappointed that the Government will not discuss nurses' pay. The Ministers, Deputies Donohoe and Harris, need to realise these are serious problems. They say the Government has no money but the INMO says that nurses need more pay. I ask them to please engage. They should meet the INMO today because the vulnerable people in Ireland who have been waiting a long time for services are not receiving them.

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