Sir, - I am a job sharing nurse, at the time of writing in bed with influenza for five days. Luckily my illness arrived during my week off, or my already small income would be further reduced.
Just as I am beginning to recover, I am in danger of being made ill again, having just listened to Mr Quinn, the Minister for Finance, say on Morning Ireland that he felt the population at large would get good value for money from the extra millions that the politicians have just granted to themselves for the running of their parties. This is the same Mr Quinn who recently told nurses that there was absolutely no money available for any group.
I love my job absolutely, and would wish to do nothing else. Pay and conditions for nurses, however, have fallen far behind other professions over many years, and it is now essential to redress this fact.
I note that the Bill to provide extra funding for political parties went rapidly through the Dail with agreement on all sides. Sadly it seems that nurses will have to take industrial action to achieve the necessary improvement in pay and conditions. (I get paid £10.75 for sleeping on call 30 miles from my home for a full night. For merely driving the same distance, a politician gets more than four times that amount.).
Are there politicians in Dail Eireann who have the courage publicly to support the nurses case, which they privately agree is. just, so that both patients and nurses can be spared the trauma of industrial action? - Yours, etc.,
Ballyhaunis,
Co Mayo.