John Crown (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very grateful to the Minister for his thoughtful response. Nurses believe right now that their only two interactions with the board are to be given their money and to be disciplined by them. They are not aware of any great service being rendered to the profession, in particular in the area of continuous professional development and they feel the board has not stepped up to the mark in that area. I am hopeful that the current potential crisis can be overcome but in the long term some serious thought should be given by the board to the whole portfolio of their activities relating to developing the nursing profession.

I am reassured that in the event of a large number of nurses being de-registered steps will be taken to ensure patient safety. There only seem to be three ways that can happen. The first is to somehow give the nurses who have been de-registered some administrative leeway to allow them to continue to work. Second, it can be achieved by hiring other registered nurses to strikebreak, though I am aware that is not necessarily the right word. Perhaps I should say "overcome the industrial dispute". Third, we can cancel procedures and decrease the workload per nurse. I understand there is a negotiating position but can the Minister give us a hint as to which way the specifics of the measures to ensure patient safety will lean?