Fianna Fáil need to stop contradicting themselves – O’Connell

Fine Gael’s Kate O’Connell has said Fianna Fáil’s health spokesperson needs to stop speaking out of both sides of his mouth and contradicting himself regarding entry level qualified nurses.

On Sunday Deputy Stephen Donnelly, speaking on ‘The Week in Politics’ (Jan 13), said: ‘nurses are the lowest paid graduate profession in our healthcare profession’.

However, Deputy O’Connell pointed out on July 11 last while discussing the pay of entry level nurses with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) in the Health Committee, the Fianna Fáil TD said ‘we do pay well’ and nurses ‘have other options’

Deputy O’Connell said the new found interest of Deputy Donnelly in the issue for young health professionals was startling considering his previous statements regarding their pay.

“We all know Fianna Fáil will cater for any demand and try to satisfy any group that comes their way. Their mantra has always been to play fast and loose without considering previous positions or implications. In today’s private member’s motion, Deputy Donnelly simply confirms that,” the Fine Gael Dublin Bay South TD said.

Last July, Deputy Donnelly told the Health Committee: ‘Matters are tricky when it comes to nurses. Relative to private sector new entrants; however, they are very well paid as new entrants…I also took a look at nursing salaries around the world. In 2013, nurses in this country were the third highest paid.

‘We were still in the top five countries in 2016. I have looked at multiple data sources and all of them say that Irish nurses are among the best paid in the world. I have looked at the various career sites and, in each case, Ireland is in the top ten.

‘According to all the data I have examined, Ireland is in the top five countries in the world where pay is concerned. There are approximately 210 countries recognised by the United Nations. If we are in the top five of approximately 210, it is fair to say that, by international comparisons, we do pay well… If the pay rate in Ireland is among the top five in the world and there is a substantially higher starting salary than that of equivalently qualified people in the private sector, it is very hard to stack it up. It does not mean they do not have other options, which they clearly do. We know they do.’

Deputy O’Connell said she hoped the Fianna Fáil representative will soon decide which side of his mouth he wishes to speak out of.

“Hopefully, that will clear up the clear contradiction that currently exists,” she said.

See Health Committee hearing here:

https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2018-07-11a.714&s=%22may+I+push+back+on+that%22#g823