Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Needless to say, we should not be having this debate. There should be no need for it. We should be paying our student nurses and midwives for the work they do in our overstretched and understaffed hospitals. Students on mandatory placements are effectively working as staff for no pay, which is simply unacceptable. The practical and vocational nature of nursing and midwifery means their education involves working on wards. They are a vital cog in our healthcare system and we need to recognise that. We need to recognise it with more than platitudes and social media posts. We need to pay them for their work.

This situation is exacerbated by the pandemic, as many student nurses cannot access part-time jobs to supplement their studies. Earlier this year, students in first to third year were paid as healthcare assistants for their placement and final year intern students were also paid at this rate. The Government must reinstate this payment immediately and make it permanent.

This motion highlights larger issues in the sector, where qualified nurses with years of experience do not receive pay that reflects their level of work, education and dedication. Responding to my question on the gender wage gap a few weeks ago, the Tánaiste pointed out that gardaí are paid more than nurses, "probably because of this tradition that one was seen to be a man's job and the other was seen to be a woman's job". We have to conclude that this rationale is a factor here as well. Student nurses and midwives are not paid properly or supported because of the occupation’s status. Many caring roles in our society, in which women are over-represented, from childcare to healthcare, are relatively low-paying. This is a sad reflection on our values.

There are no valid arguments for not paying our student nurses and midwives. The Government amendment acknowledges "the exceptional contribution that nurses and midwives, including students, have made to the Covid-19 pandemic response". Why then is the Government not willing to pay them for this work?

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