asked the Minister for Health when his proposal to allow married nurses into permanent posts will become operative.
21.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment of Married Nurses.
20.
asked the Minister for Health when his proposal to allow married women to train for nursing will become operative.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions No. 20 and No. 21 together.
I hope that the inquiries which I am making as to whether the ending of the marriage bar in the health services in advance of other sectors of the public service, for some of which legislation for the change would be required, would create any serious difficulties for those other sectors will soon be completed. I will then be in a position to decide whether a date can be announced for the ending of the marriage bar for appointments in the health services.
The ending of the marriage bar will apply to appointments of trainee psychiatric nurses in the same way as to all other appointments under health boards. The marriage bar does not apply to student nurses other than trainee psychiatric nurses because, unlike the latter, they do not enter training as officers. Conditions for the admission of students to general nursing training schools are determined by the authorities of the hospitals concerned.
Will that apply to nurses in the Army Nursing Service?
I cannot say. The Deputy had better ask me a question on that.
May we take it that this decision will not be embarked on without consultation with the nurses' association?
I think there have been consultations already. The nurses' association have approved by a small majority of the proposal to remove the marriage bar.