Danny Healy-Rae demands pay parity for student nurses and Section 39
Danny Healy-Rae spoke in support of a motion pressing for better pay and treatment for student nurses and for restoration of pay parity for Section 39 workers. He called on the government and the minister to waive the 100 euro nursing registration fee this year and to immediately restore pay for affected Section 39 staff.
Support for student nurses
Danny Healy-Rae said student nurses must be treated with respect, dignity and paid fairly, noting they serve on the front line. He urged that the 100 euro registration fee for nurses be waived this year as a sign of respect for those who "gave so much to the people of the country this year."
Section 39 pay parity
He called for the restoration of parity for Section 39 workers, citing requests from Dorney Dooley and workers who operate South Dock in Killarney and Kerry. He highlighted that other Section 39 workers whose pay was reduced in 2010 have been restored since 2018 and questioned why these local staff remain neglected.
Local staff and strike risk
Danny Healy-Rae warned that some Section 39 staff are preparing to go on strike and described it as sad that late-night drivers and workers who provide the South Dock service in Killarney are being left behind. He said these staff give a great deal to their communities and need their pay restored immediately.
Front-line risks and broader comparisons
He contrasted the treatment of nurses with other apprentices - electricians, plumbers, mechanics - who are paid as apprentices, arguing student and senior nurses putting themselves and their families at risk should be similarly respected and supported. He made an urgent plea to the minister to rectify the matters raised without delay.
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I'm glad to get the opportunity to support this motion here today. It's very important and our student nurses must be treated with respect, dignity and treat them fairly. All other apprentices, electricians, plumbers, mechanics, you name it, they're all being paid as apprentices and students and nurses who serve on the front line, they need to be seen after and respected and paid. I'm also calling for the registration fee for nurses of 100 euros to forego that this year and respect the nurses that gave so much to the people of the country this year. I wish to call on the government to restore parity to the Section 39 workers and like that I've been asked by Dorney Dooley and those great workers that operate South Dock in Killarney and Kerry to restore their pay. Other Section 39 workers that their pay was reduced back in 2010 have been restored since 2018. Why neglect these people? I'm calling for these people who are preparing to go out and strike and it's sad to think that these staff and these drivers and these workers who give so much late at night to the South Dock service in Killarney that these people are left behind. So I'm calling you minister to ensure that this matter is rectified and rectified immediately. The risks that are involved for nurses on the front line that must be taken into account. And these student nurses as well along with the senior nurses and all those involved, they are putting themselves in jeopardy and have done all their lives and their families as well when they're out working. They may bring back the virus to home. So I'm pleading with you minister, this is very important, restore the pay to the Section 39 workers and respect the student nurses. Let us move on.
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