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FOR MOST OBSERVERS, Michelle Obama has been a more-than-successful presence in the White House – running popular campaigns and giving strong speeches, as well as giving occasional insights into Barack Obama’s family life.
But a new book claims that there were simmering tensions between Michelle Obama and the president’s officials, which on occasion exploded into furious rows between staffers.
The Obamas, by New York Times correspondent Jodi Kantor, is based on interviews with insiders and gives a number of telling insights behind the scenes. Here are some of our favourites:
- Additional reporting from AP
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They are doing great work but we should do everything to keep our own healthcare workers here.
@Munster1: having immigrants working here means that at least some of the pressure is taken off overworked staff meaning that staff don’t leave the job or country in search of better working conditions as much
@Munster1: I remember going to Kerry for holidays as a kid and asking my mum what language they were speaking… it’s also sometimes hard to understand some accents. Instead of forcing it why not provide classes as anyone who comes here is eager to learn English…
Make fluent English one of the criteria. Some of them are impossible to understand. Also, make citizenship conditional upon HSE employment.
@Benny McHale: Having worked in Healthcare for more than 20 years, I have encountered many non-EU employees. All of the non-EU doctors and nurses I have met speak fluent English. Some of my Irish colleagues are not quite so easy to understand.
@Benny McHale: the majority of foreign medical staff in ireland are fluent English speakers but much like Kerry people their accent makes it difficult to understand….
@Benny McHale: The article was perfectly clear and articulate. If I had to be hospitalised I’d certainly appreciate being treated by a doctor capable of speaking out when necessary. Certainly not one that settled for struggling in silence for fear of what people might imagine. Everyone needs some hope that they can progress in life.
We are producing enough of our own at significant cost to not to have to do this.
@Bill ORourke: not everyone who graduates wants to stay in Ireland and they shouldn’t feel like they have to, and some will go abroad for a few years experience
@Bill ORourke: no we’re not.
@Sam Harms: isn’t that more of a case to better the working conditions in Ireland. For the Irish people. Rather than setting the bar lower and lower and staffing the country with foreigners in the first place? It’s only putting a bandage over the wound the country is continuing to cut into itself.
This is a consequence of brain drain of the last decade as a result of failed policy to retain talent.. Recent survey from nurses graduates showed over 70% are planning to emigrate.
How about paying student nurses Donnelly…. their the backbone of the health sector. Which you are missing…..
We produce more than enough doctors and nurses- highest per capita in Europe- that is Irish doctors alone excluding the foreign students who also graduate here.
The issue here is that doctors and nurses are leaving for better conditions overseas and in the private sector. 20% of consultant postions in the public sector are unfilled.
Asking him to do something.. Like that’s gonna work.
Thumbs up
Good for Ireland, not so good for the countries these badly needed professionals are leaving behind.
Wow how fast can these guys respond to a trending story however merited but take years to deal with true problems like paid sick leavefor workers, nurses retention, poor public transport systems etc
These articles about immigrants in Ireland are always guaranteed to bring out the whataboutery, closet xenophobia and racism…
This is bound to just create some form of “look after own” thread .
@Paul Hayes: are you suggesting that looking after our own is a bad thing?
@Cormac McCarthy: Cormac, our own are not here today to care for our own. .. it’s a pandemic and our own choose to look after themselves.
have your say