Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leader for outlining the Order of Business today. Regarding the nurses strike yesterday, another three days of overtime bans are planned for 5, 6 and 7 February and further strikes from 12 February if there is no resolution. Will the Leader update us on what progress has been made and what is happening? I understand the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, will have to look at all requests for money. Perhaps a way to look at this would be to examine the pay and conditions of nurses here vis-à-visother countries where some of our graduates may be going. I understand that time served abroad is not recognised when people come back here and that certain qualifications that nurses are paid for abroad are not paid for here.

Without reopening the entire public pay process, perhaps there might be clever ways of looking at the system in place and the allowances that nurses get. There might be a way of improving their terms and conditions without reopening the whole public sector pay process. I am conscious that the four funerals will take place in Donegal today. I again pass on my condolences and sympathies to all of the people in Donegal, the families of the victims, their friends, their colleagues and their neighbours. It is a really sad and awful occasion. The loss of any life is terrible but particularly the loss of young lives. I remember the people of Donegal this morning and especially those in Gweedore, Gortahork and Falcarragh.

I know that over the next weeks, months or however long it takes, time for the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill will be allotted until it is completed but every day or every week we need a specific headed item on Brexit. Yesterday, a German Minister outlined that the German economy will grow at its slowest rate for many years. It is predicted it will be 1%. The Minister stated the impact of Brexit will affect not only the UK and Ireland, which it obviously will, but also many other countries in the EU. I appreciate all the work the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, are doing and the whole-of-Government approach but the House needs regular updates from the Minister, the Minister of State and others on the preparedness for whatever will happen. I appreciate this is difficult in terms of not knowing what to plan for but the House requires regular updates.

I remember in particular the people in Donegal today.