Dublin: Deputy Prime Minister and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin addressed concerns over the alleged recruitment freeze in Ireland’s health sector during a Dáil debate, aligning himself with the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) stance that such a freeze is unnecessary. His comments came in response to People Before Profit TD Mick Barry, who raised the issue of impending strikes by nurses and midwives, pointing to growing unrest among trade unions regarding HSE’s recruitment controls.
Barry argued that the government’s “pay and numbers strategy” effectively amounts to a recruitment ban, warning of severe strain on the healthcare system. He highlighted record numbers of patients on trolleys, particularly at Cork University Hospital, and questioned how the health service would cope as winter approaches.
Martin acknowledged there is some truth to claims regarding recruitment challenges but stressed that these must be viewed in the context of significant increases in healthcare spending. He emphasised that the government has allocated substantial resources to the HSE, both this year and next, to expand staffing. “There are 28,000 more people working in the health sector compared to the start of 2020,” Martin stated, refuting allegations of a hiring freeze.
The Deputy Prime Minister also acknowledged issues within hospital organisational structures, calling for improvements in human resources management within the HSE. He urged that the benefits of the current HR strategies be evaluated but reiterated that the government’s commitment to increasing health sector funding, including the €1.5 billion set aside annually, should not be overlooked.
In response to concerns about overcrowding and understaffing, Martin pointed out that despite the growing population, the government has made significant efforts to address healthcare demands. He reaffirmed that vacancies have not increased and insisted that the narrative of a recruitment ban is misleading.
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