Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Like others, I want to raise the issue of the nurses strike and to express support and solidarity with the 30,000 members of the INMO who are striking for the first time in 20 years. I join with others in calling on the Government to engage urgently with the INMO to address, in particular, the very valid concerns it has raised around recruitment and retention of nurses and around patient safety in hospitals because of under-staffing as a result of the difficulties with recruitment and retention. As Deputies Howlin, Kelly and others have stated in the Dáil, this engagement can be carried out within the framework of the public service stability agreement, PSSA, particularly in the context of the issues relating to recruitment and retention. It is worth noting the Opposition has been calling for a general review of changes in work practices and of additional duties now being taken on by nurses, and that such a review should consider, therefore, the issues the INMO has been raising around the increased professionalisation of nursing. I should add I have been contacted - as I am sure Senators Norris and Ruane have - by Trinity nursing graduates who point out to us the huge transformation that has occurred in recent years within the nursing profession, with the increased professionalisation of nursing and the awarding of degrees.Furthermore, the huge expansion in postgraduate nursing studies has resulted in some incredible research coming out of third level institutions which has really changed the nature of the nursing profession. The Government has been strangely detached on this matter and needs to engage with the INMO, otherwise we will just see more and more hardship for patients whose procedures will be delayed.

I also wish to raise concern about the children's hospital and the levels of awareness, in particular within the Government, of the cost overruns. We need urgent clarification from the Government on this issue. It raises the question down the road about the cost and the implementation of Sláintecare, which is a real elephant in the room. We see the issue of the children's hospital and the difficulty bringing it forward in a responsible manner and in accordance with projected costs and then we look at the enormous cost potential of Sláintecare, yet there is a very significant political buy-in to Sláintecare and its proposals. We ask the Leader for clarification from Government and the Minister for Health on this issue.

I also ask colleagues for support on the parental leave legislation, which we will bring forward in the Labour Party's Private Members' time tomorrow. I thank all those colleagues who have assisted us in this regard. My Labour Party colleagues and I, and Senator Norris in our Seanad Technical Group, are putting forward this Bill on Committee Stage. We will table amendments and we hope colleagues will support the amendments, which are mostly technical, simply to ensure that the Bill will be straightforward and effective in implementation. We hope the Government will not oppose the Bill on Committee Stage.