Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The strength of our response to Covid-19 has been the concept of solidarity. It is a concept we have seen in every community throughout the country. However, it is a concept that appears alien to Government. We are in a situation now where Deputy David Cullinane has to bring a motion before the House. It is the second motion relating to the demand, request and plea that student nurses would get paid for the work they do.

That we are even discussing the motion at all is incredibly disappointing. That we are discussing it in a week when Government is defending its decision to increase the salary of the Secretary General of the Department of Health to €292,000 per annum shows how perverse Government thinking is. The proposed salary for Robert Watt marks an increase of €81,000. That is more than front-line workers get paid in totality. Let us compare that with the offer that is apparently being made to student nurses of €100 per week for the work they do. After all the testimony we have heard and the reality they have spelt out to us an offer of €100 per week is insulting, patronising and really sums up this Government. People may wonder why our newly-qualified nurses are found in every corner of the world and treasured by almost every other health service in the world. It boils down to one thing: lack of respect.

The Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, defended the proposed increase in Robert Watt's salary by €81,000 to €292,000 per annum. His logic is incredibly interesting. He says that this pay hike is in recognition of the unique challenges and significant responsibilities attached to this role. That spells and sets it out in the clearest possible terms.

This Government, the Minister and the leaders of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party recognise the unique challenges and very significant responsibilities of bureaucrats and officials but do not recognise the unique challenges and significant responsibilities that have been undertaken by the front line of the front line, our student nurses and midwives.

I commend the motion to the House, I commend Deputy Cullinane on tabling it and I beg and plead with every Member of the House to stand by those who have stood by us.

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