Mattie McGrath condemns pay snub to student nurses
Mattie McGrath spoke in the Dáil on 20 January 2021, criticising the government's treatment of student nurses and frontline staff and condemning procurement failures during the COVID-19 pandemic. He argued student nurses were denied pay and respect while senior officials received large pay increases.
Treatment of student nurses and frontline staff
Mattie McGrath called nursing a noble profession and described student nurses as gallant, frontline carers who entered risky placements during the pandemic. He said student nurses faced long hours, pressure and often lacked senior staff support, citing a named student, Niamh, on placement in Stigo as an example.
Critique of nursing training and respect for nurses
He questioned the new model of nursing training and compared it unfavourably with the era of matrons, arguing the government does not respect nurses. McGrath accused Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens of repeatedly voting down motions to pay and recognise nurses.
Pay rises for senior officials versus student pay
McGrath highlighted a reported pay increase for Mr. Watt of €81,000 that he said brought the official's salary to almost €300,000. He contrasted those increases and payments to junior ministers with what he called the refusal to pay student nurses, calling the disparity shameful.
Procurement failures, PPE and hospital concerns
He addressed procurement problems during the pandemic, alleging no-tender contracting, faulty PPE and ongoing scandals. McGrath also warned of the "black hole" surrounding the children's hospital project and questioned whether it would "rise out of the ashes."
Ministerial conduct and political consequences
McGrath criticised ministers for leaving when his group speaks and accused them of insulting elected members and frontline workers. He said a minister who once criticised these issues in opposition failed to vote against them in government and urged Ministers Donnelly and Butler to be ashamed of their actions.
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Hello Minister, and I know the Minister for Health is left again, I know I respect the Minister of State, Butler, but this happens all the time when our group is not interested in what we have to say. He is interested in the humanity and does not respect the nurses in general, let alone say the student nurses. We have seen case after case where the Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Greens voted here, voted down a motion to pay and recognise the gallant work, those angels have mercy. We are so fortunate to have those young ladies and gentlemen go into the profession of nursing. A noble profession here in Ireland. The teacher goes on to tell us about how it is a new model of nursing he has set up, the new system of training for nursing. I wonder if it is any better than when we had the matrons. I do not think it is, but nonetheless, this government does not respect the nurses. To think that in such a time, oh he is coming back, he is welcome back, I withdraw my remarks, he is back at least, but I hope he will listen to us. But he has a habit of leaving, and so have all the ministers before our group come up to speak. It is just another insult. So they insult the elected members of parliament. Why wouldn't they insult the nurses? We see what happens with Mr. Watt, the new Secretary General. They get 81,000 a year of an increase from, of an increase, bringing it to almost 300,000. We see what happens with the procurement scandal that is going on day in, day out, especially during the pandemic is going on, that the procurement job is given out, no tendering, pay what you like. We've got faulty PPE, we've got so much other stuff. We see the mess and the scandal and the black hole of the children's hospital that may never rise out of the ashes. And this minister is happy to go along with it, even though he criticised it when he was in opposition. But he wouldn't vote against it and support our emotions either. The reckless behaviour of Fianna Fáil and Fianna Gael towards the health services. And again, the mistreatment of the student nurses is just an unbelievable scandal. I know one in particular, I know many, but one is a very good friend of mine, Niamh, and she's in Stigo at the moment in placement. But she's gone into every situation, and they all have gone into every situation, in the COVID crisis. Frontline to help out and to work, and the hours and the pressure and the danger and the risks. Often without, as other speakers have said, senior staff to help them out, because some of them were gone off sick, or were self-isolating, or whatever. So, it's a crisis. But we can deal with everything. Throw billions of money at everything, but don't pay the students. I believe in Mullanoaghy and Chuckiecheid. Pay the young people and they will come with us, and they will work with us. But no, you want to stand down on them, you want to persecute them, you want to show your disdain for them. But in the middle of a pandemic, to give Mr Watt, as I said, 81,000 of an increase, and he hasn't such a good record coming from the public expenditure, mind you. You'd wonder what he has to offer here, and nothing personal against the man, but this kind of money. When they say there's increases for the three junior ministers that they pay into super juniors. Money for everything. Increases, but not for the student nurses, or not for the nurses, or not for the frontline workers in any shape, make it for them. You should hang your head in shame, Minister Donnelly, and Minister Butler, in shame. And look what you don't say, Bridges Hospital, can you get sure, and your doorstep, Minister Butler? Shameful. Go to Michael Healy.
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