Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The one thing we need to do is engage now before we finish up with patients in hospitals with no nurses to look after them. We heard of 35 nurses this week who could not get a working visa. That is outrageous in the current environment. The Minister must bring in the unions and find out how we can move forward. The pay deal has not worked. It has been rejected by the majority of the key front-line services. We will have to bring in the unions early in January before we finish up with services being ground to a halt as a result of industrial action. I urge the Leader to get the Minister to come to the House as early as possible in January to discuss the matter.