Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are nowhere near strike action. I understand that a ballot was begun by the INMO today and that FÓRSA will begin a ballot later this week. Any objective, fair analysis would acknowledge that growth in numbers of staff in our health service has never been as high, with recruitment in 2023 being the highest since the foundation of the Health Service Executive. As of August 2024, there were 27,900 more working in our health service than there were when the Government came to office. I understand there was an initial engagement on some of these matters with the WRC and the HSE remains available to engage. That would be the best way to proceed.

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