Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To clarify, I submitted this Topical Issue matter yesterday before last night's debate. It was not selected for last night's Topical Issue debate, but I wanted to make my views known clearly and emphatically. I know I represent the whole country, including every Deputy, regardless of political party, when I say that we greatly appreciate the almost 40,000 committed and dedicated nurses and midwives working in our hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities. Along with all other healthcare staff, they have done fantastic work in this most dreadful battle with the coronavirus, particularly in our hospitals.

Included among the 40,000 are student nurses who went into the bearna bhaoil and worked nights and all sorts of hours to ensure that our hospitals stayed open. During the crisis, thousands of health staff were sick with Covid or had to cocoon because they had underlying health issues or for family reasons. There was a large demand for nurses, including students, to work with might and main to protect the lives of our most vulnerable and ill.

This Topical Issue matter addresses an issue on which I received a number of requests from nurses in my constituency. They felt that a waiver or credit should be given to the nursing profession in respect of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI's, registration fees. It might not seem like much money, but it would make a significant difference in principle and would recognise in a small way the work they have done. The credit would be provided to the NMBI by the State to pay for at least this year. Public opinion is strongly of the view that we should do much more. Many Deputies feel the same. We must find a way of doing this that is acceptable to the Government and the nursing unions.

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