asked the Minister for Health whether he expects any agreement to be reached in the matter of allowing nurses who had been working abroad full recognition of their service in the incremental scale at their point of entry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Recognition of Nursing Service Abroad.
43.
Standard practice in the local authority service is that a new appointee enters the appropriate salary scale at the minimum, although in a few instances departures from the standard practice have been authorised in deference to recruitment difficulties.
I understand that the Irish Nurses' Organisation have raised with local health authorities the question of incremental credit for experience and that the issue is being considered by the County and City Managers' Association. I am unable to predict what the outcome of the negotiations may be.
Have the Department any view on this matter? Is there any such thing as a guide line for local authorities? Would the Minister not agree that it seems unfair that, in the case of a girl who has worked abroad for some years and gained valuable experience, that experience should not be considered for incremental purposes? Does it not seem that we have an investment in keeping people from returning to this country if we have a rule whereby they are penalised for working abroad and not given credit for it?
It is something I should like to see done.