Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I, too, extend my deepest sympathy and prayers to the families of the four young men who tragically lost their lives in Machaire Rabhartaigh in County Donegal over the weekend. A cloud of sadness and desolation now hangs over that beautiful part of Donegal. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families. I also extend my deepest sympathy and prayers to the Waller family who lost their father and mother in a tragic accident that took place in County Monaghan at the weekend also. Indeed, I extend my sympathy to all families who have lost their loved ones through road traffic accidents.

I am also saddened to learn of the nursing strike planned for tomorrow. It is very disappointing that the Minister for Health and the Government have allowed the situation to develop to such an extent that nurses feel they have no other option but to go on strike. As matters stand, we must recognise and acknowledge a number of issues. First, nurses and midwives have the lowest salary of graduate professionals in the health service. The Government must acknowledge that. It must also acknowledge that there is a serious issue with recruitment and retention in the nursing profession. The Government must realise and appreciate that the nursing profession is changing and has changed dramatically over the last number of years. It is sad that nurses feel they have no other option at this point but to take strike action, and all that goes with it. I was interested to see a comment yesterday in one of the national newspapers by Mr. Peter O'Rourke, an orthopaedic surgeon based in Letterkenny University Hospital. He said that nurses have been "poorly treated and poorly paid for many years and the only surprise is that they have waited so long to take industrial action". This is from a gentleman who works shoulder to shoulder with members of the nursing profession seven days a week, 52 weeks of the year.

We all appreciate the daily hard work and dedication of nursing staff. Sometimes when their shifts finish they must stay on for another 45 minutes or longer to brief the staff who are taking over from them, all without pay. We must recognise that. We must acknowledge that there is a problem and enter meaningful negotiations with the nurses to try to resolve this matter for the benefit of nurses and, indeed, the benefit of us all.