John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the progress made earlier in the week. I hope it brings about a resolution to the issues and the necessary progress. It is unfortunate that the nurses, for only the second time in 30 years, had to go out and picket to achieve their aims. It would have been far more favourable if they had been recognised without the need for a strike but that is the position.

I raised one or two issues in the previous debates that I want to ensure are continued and included in the negotiations. The first is the number of temporary contracts still in place, particularly for the members of the PNA.

I tabled a parliamentary question last month to be informed that 33% of contracts issued last year for psychiatric nurses were of a temporary nature. I posed a question on how we will resolve the issue of the long-term retention of staff if temporary contracts are going to be issued in a time of crisis. I do not have the figures for the nurses and midwives but I am informed that they are similar. The Government wants to reduce agency staff costs and if it is to do that, a positive measure would be to offer permanent as opposed to temporary contracts.

Another issue I want to raise is the safety of nurses in the workplace, in particular, psychiatric nurses. I also tabled a parliamentary question on this issue last month in respect of Kerry University Hospital to be informed that it was fully satisfied with all elements of security in the psychiatric ward. However, I was contacted subsequently by two nurses who were seriously injured, both of whom are now off work receiving treatment because of their injuries. There is a need for security staff, full-time if necessary, to protect our nurses in the workplace. This is a critical element to this dispute. It was not all about pay; it was also about terms and conditions.

I also want to mention the potential strike by the ambulance crew. I ask that even at this late stage, the HSE would intervene, recognise them and prevent this unnecessary action.

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