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

The Minister of State has iterated the importance of the registration process and the importance of the independence of the board. I acknowledge that and everybody acknowledges that. On the request made to me to put this before the Houses, which I did yesterday and which has been taken today, I am fulfilling my commitment to speak in support of this motion.

I welcome the fact that progress is being made and, in particular, the comments today by the Tánaiste, Deputy Varadkar, when he said that, in fact, negotiations are ongoing with the nurses' unions and at the Department of Health with a view to improving pay and to regulate the income student nurses get in a way that is more attractive to them. That is an important point.

Part of the problem and what really happened here is that when we entered the pandemic, nobody knew what was ahead. All those people on the front line, and I am talking about people in the National Ambulance Service, all the healthcare assistants, cleaners, people who work in nursing homes and all those, took huge risks with their health to stay the course and help us through this pandemic, which is not over yet.

It is important that we go ahead and provide significant increased support at this time, particularly to nurses, and acknowledge the work they have done in a special way. I believe that is the will of the people. From the debate last night and the views we are getting today, the fact is that student nurses were not acting as student nurses when they went in but were acting in their full capacity to protect, help and support people who had Covid-19. I believe that is what we should do.

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