Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In Ireland, by contrast, we are hiring at record levels and we have exceeded the already ambitious targets for this year. Where I agree with the Deputies is that there is absolutely no question but that many of the jobs in our healthcare service are very intense. They are tough, difficult jobs - working in emergency departments, intensive care wards and in complex surgery, to name but a few. There is also no question but that we must all strive every day to do better and better for patients and better and better for our fantastic healthcare professionals. That is why we set up the NCHD task force; that is why we hired a chief health and social care professional; that is why we are rolling out safe staffing through next year; that is why we are continuing to invest in advance practice; that is why we are investing in new primary care centres, bed blocks and hospitals; that is why we have been hiring at record rates for the past three years; and that is why we are expanding college places in healthcare.

It is true that he vast majority of healthcare professionals I speak with talk with passion about their work and their patients. They talk with pride about their hospitals or community organisations. It is also true that the vast majority of healthcare professionals who qualify in Ireland choose to stay and work in Ireland. Some do go abroad, as is normal, natural and healthy. It is also true that the majority of those who qualify here and choose to go abroad, in time choose to come back home and to work here.

See this speech in context