Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion on pay and conditions for student nurses and midwives. I thank Solidarity-People Before Profit for putting this important issue on the agenda today.

Members have all stood to give a round of applause to all front-line workers, including in this mutual appreciation, to student nurses and midwives. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has stated its student members are being exploited during Covid, however. Students on placements in hospitals are facing additional Covid risks and are effectively asked to work as staff for no pay. Many have also faced income loss as they are no longer able to work part-time as care assistants while studying due to the risk of Covid while working in a care home.

Melissa, a student midwife from my area in Clondalkin, is a single mother of two. Melissa, like many single mothers, has not only had to push against but break the glass ceiling in order to improve her and her family's life. She was accepted into Trinity College Dublin to study midwifery, in itself no mean feat. She has had to manage to juggle her kids, her home and her studies. In her first year, Melissa has had to do six weeks' work placement. This has increased to 14 weeks this year. She is expected to be a student, a mother and a nurse all rolled into one. Nursing placements are always tough but Covid has meant they are under incredible pressure. Melissa has had to work on a Covid ward and has had no choice in this matter. She has carried out all duties of a midwife and has been on the front line for 39 hours a week. Melissa receives no allowances or pay for this. She has had to pay her own travel costs and lunches on top of the everyday normal expenses that families have.

The Government has taken advantage of students like Melissa and their dedication to their vocation. Mothers do not stop giving birth during a pandemic. Just when students managed to break through the glass ceiling, the Government managed to put another barrier in their way. Instead of clapping, the Minister of State should put her hands deep down and reach into her pockets to pay these students what they are worth.

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