DUBLIN: Despite the official lifting of the recruitment freeze in Ireland’s health sector, trade unions have voiced concerns about potential ongoing recruitment barriers, particularly affecting nursing and other staffing areas.
Unions Express Concerns
Trade unions have stated that the vacancies resulting from the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) previous hiring ban cannot be filled promptly. This affects various employment sectors, including clerical and nursing positions.
HSE Recruitment Plans
The HSE has announced plans to advertise 2,350 new jobs this year, with some recruitment already underway and the remainder expected by year-end. However, Albert Murphy, chairman of the Combined Trade Unions in Health and director of industrial relations at the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), revealed that the HSE has not specified which sectors will meet these recruitment targets.
Murphy noted that correspondence from the HSE suggested stricter recruitment restrictions throughout the year. Many vacant posts remained unfilled until the end of last year, and the new plan indicates these vacancies will continue to be unfilled. In response, the joint unions are considering a strike involving all health sector workers if the health department fails to provide clarity.
The ICTU group of healthcare unions includes Fórsa, Connect, the Irish Medical Organisation, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association, SIPTU, and Unite.
Government Budget and Future Uncertainty
The government recently announced an additional €1.5 billion for the HSE this year and a further €1.2 billion for the health budget in 2025. Despite this, there are indications that the recruitment process may face further delays due to ambiguities in government policies.
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