Annie Hoey (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will be jumping around a couple of topics if that is all right. I draw attention to the Labour Party request sent to all Deputies and Senators that they pledge their support to getting the Covid-19 vaccine if and when it is ready and to encourage constituents and people they know to get that vaccine. I mention it for the people who have not yet signed up or tweeted their support. It has the hashtag #vaccineswork.

It would not be a normal week if I did not stand up to speak about my favourite topic, which is pay for student nurses and midwives. I flag a reason given for not paying student nurses, although I do not really accept it. It is that if we paid student nurses, it would come at the cost of eliminating the degree programme certification or somehow devalue the education part of their training. I simply do not agree and there is nothing intrinsic to student placements that prevent payment. Using this as an argument not to pay student nurses is not really acceptable.

The payment of student trainees should be a goal in all fields as otherwise the unpaid placements become a barrier to entry to such courses, reproducing and reinforcing inequality in society.I refer often to who is not in the room, who is not in the degree programme or who is not able to take on a learning opportunity because there are financial barriers in place. Those financial barriers are not only fees. It is a financial barrier to not be able to afford to take unpaid placement. If we want to build an Ireland of equals and opportunities for everyone, we have to think beyond just getting people in the door. Unpaid placements on courses are a financial barrier. They are locking people out of taking on these learning opportunities. Now more than ever we need nurses, midwives, doctors and people who are willing to take on these vocational roles. This is a matter of justice and equality. It ensures true access to opportunities that placements bring and also that work is properly recompensed and that is important. We cannot support unpaid labour. If the Government line is that it supports it, that is problematic.

The issue of pay restoration in the public sector and former Deputies getting a pay rise in pensions and contributions has been raised previously in this House. There are secretarial assistants working in the Oireachtas who earn less than the living wage. Student nurses are also not being paid. The big unions walked away from the Low Pay Commission on the back of a proposed 10 cent increase in the living wage. What Government is saying in terms of valuing work is concerning and shows a little bit of remove from the reality of the financial hardship experienced by many workers.

What is happening in the health system among staff who are keeping it going is happening in our own offices. We are not paying our secretarial assistants properly or enough. We need to set the standard for employment here in Leinster House and outside Leinster House.