Taoiseach calls for talks to avert planned emergency department nurses strike
By Fiachra Ó Cionnaith, Irish Examiner Political Reporter
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has warned nurses an imminent strike over Ireland's ongoing hospital trolley crisis "will not help anyone" as he insisted the problem is being addressed and that "the numbers speak for themselves".
Speaking during the latest Dáil leaders questions debate, the Fine Gael leader - who infamously promised while in opposition "I'll be the person who ends the scandal of patients on trolleys" - said while "challenges" remain the Government's plan to address the problem is working.
Responding to criticism after 92% of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation's members voted in favour to down tools on December 15, Mr Kenny said "we're a long way" from previous crisis levels.
He said while the 329 patients on trolleys yesterday was "a challenge" it is far below the 500-600 patients in the same situation at the start of the year and pointedly noted on five separate occasions that INMO general secretary Liam Doran "co-chaired" the Government's emergency department action plan which is now accused of failure.
Responding to criticism from Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin over the Government's alleged inaction in addressing the scandal, Mr Kenny claimed his political rival should be reluctant to comment because "you ran out of health like a scalded cat" when he was health minister a decade ago.
However, Mr Martin hit back, saying Mr Kenny's only response is "'I wonder how that happened', blame anybody but me [Mr Kenny]", a comment backed by Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams and Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice who accused Government of having "no public health policy" and effectively telling waiting list patients to "live in pain".
