Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I highlight the plight of 12 graduate nurses working in Mayo University Hospital who have been let down by the HSE. They were promised permanent contracts in their place of work, but they have not been delivered. This is notwithstanding the fact that in March 2017 the INMO and SIPTU agreed with the HSE that from then on graduate nurses and midwives would be offered permanent contracts. It was for the very reason that we were finding it hard to retain nurses and other health professionals. We have invested a great deal in the education of these healthcare professionals and would like to retain them. Nurses and other healthcare professionals need permanent contracts to establish obtain mortgages and themselves and their families. The nurses in County Mayo were likewise promised contracts. As far back as 2017, the HSE's national director of human resources confirmed that all graduating nurses and midwives in the Saolta group would be offered permanent contracts, but that has proved not to be true. There is a serious question about commitments being made in public and the experience of the nurses. It speaks to issues of trust, truth and honesty and has led to disillusionment among those working in the health system. The Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, was told that these permanent contracts would issue, but they did not. I ask that he be invited to the House to allow us to shine a light on the behaviour of the HSE in delivering on this public, on-the-record commitment which it has failed to fulfil. Let us avoid losing these graduate nurses. Their colleagues in the class of 2017 have left and we do not want and cannot afford to lose them too. It is ironic that there are 29 nursing posts vacant in Mayo University Hospital, but these nurses cannot get the permanent contracts they need.