David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Government commissioned a report on pay and allowances for student nurses and midwives. Several weeks ago, as the Tánaiste knows, placements for student nurses and midwives in hospitals were paused for two weeks. That comes to an end this weekend and I have had many calls from student nurses and midwives worried that they have not had any calls from the hospitals where they were placed and they do not know whether they are going back to those placements on Monday. Why is that? Has this cancellation of placements continued beyond two weeks?

The Tánaiste is also aware that this House passed a motion on the issue of pay and allowances for student nurses and midwives, including for this report to be published. It has not been published. The motion also called for the March agreement to be reinstated. It has not been reinstated. In addition, the motion called for the second report, which the Minister has stated will look at permanent solutions to be put in place and expedited. That has not taken place. When are we going to see action on this issue and can the Tánaiste offer clarity on the placement issue?

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