Galway West TD Mairéad Farrell has called on the Minister for Health to quit delaying and pay student nurses and midwives.
The Sinn Féin TD planned to bring forward a motion in the Dáil yesterday demanding the Government pay student nurses appropriate wages.
“The Minister for Health has suggested paying student nurses and midwives just €100 per week,” she says. “This won’t cut it. There should be no more empty promises or delays. This is a crisis.”
“The review the Minister based this small sum on was conducted before the current crisis and recognised that, if the situation changed, it would be appropriate to return to the March pay agreement.
“Where students are needed to fill employment gaps they should be paid appropriately.”
She says a severe staffing crisis before the pandemic is now worse.
“Throughout the pandemic, student nurses and midwives have been working bravely and tirelessly every day to protect our families and communities from Covid-19.
“The way the Government has treated them has been nothing short of insulting. It’s time to do the right thing and ensure they are paid properly. They deserve respect and must be protected from exploitation. This is more important than ever as the public health crisis worsens.”
She says the decision to pay student nurses and midwives lies with the Minister for Health, but that Minister Harris is also responsible for “protecting students from exploitation”.
“The time to deliver is now.”
