asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the results of the consideration given to the reports on the application of the Irish nurses to be included in a pension scheme; and if he will make early arrangements for an improvement in their position.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Nurses' Pensions Scheme.
Mr. Byrne
I was approached by organisations representative of the nursing profession and asked to receive a deputation to discuss the question of pensions and other matters. I undertook to receive the deputation to hear the agreed views of the organisations. The organisations conferred and submitted the heads of the matters they wished to discuss. I asked them to indicate the nature of the difficulties arising under each head so that the discussion would be as useful and pertinent as possible. No reply has yet been received from the nurses' organisations.
Mr. Byrne
I asked the Minister a question about the Irish Nurses' Organisation and in his reply he stated that he asked Irish organisations which cannot get agreement. If one organisation presses him to receive a deputation, will he not do so and let them speak for the whole lot?
I am at a loss to understand the supplementary question of the Deputy. He probably does not know the question he put down, so I will read it for him. (Question read). There is no reference there to any organisation.
Mr. Byrne
Is it not a fact that one nurses' organisation is pressing for a deputation to be received?
I have answered the question put down. There is no reference in the question to any organisation.
Mr. Byrne
You have dodged the issue and the nurses are still suffering.
It is quite clear that the Deputy does not know what he is talking about.