Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the previous two speakers in relation to speaking time, and it needs to be resolved as business needs to be done.

Last week, a deal was struck by the Department and the unions on a 9.25% pay increase for many healthcare workers under section 39 contracts. This is to be rolled out over a two-year period. I publicly welcomed this long-awaited move only to realise that the devil is in the detail for section 39 private nursing home staff, who are to be exempted from this pay increase. Private nursing homes are already being hammered by the State, receiving €380 less per patient every week in comparison with public hospitals. They also have to pay for any HIQA upgrades to their nursing homes when ordered to carry them out.

On top of that, does the State expect the residents or families of those living in nursing homes to make up the pay shortfall for these section 39 workers? This section 39 pay increase deal should be fair and across the board. I am calling on the Government to make time available to discuss this critical matter out of respect for every private nursing home staff member and patients and their families across our island and to reverse the very unfair section 39 deal that has been brokered.

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