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WHEN NURSES WENT on strike across the country on Wednesday, there were reports that one out of every three cars that drove past were beeping.
A TheJournal.ie live feed from a picket outside the Mater Hospital had a little less beeping, but still a very considerable number of motorists showing solidarity.
Earlier this week, opinion polls on both TheJournal.ie and Claire Byrne Live put support for the nurses strike at about 75%.
Add to that the countless Stand with Nurses banners online and it’s clear to see that the INMO has a level of support among the public that’s unprecedented in recent years.
This is a positive step. The public standing in solidarity with people who want better pay and conditions is something that as a society we should applaud.
It does however shed more evidence on a growing trend that sees people deciding that some workers are entitled to strive for better when others are not.
It has somehow become acceptable for people unconnected to a given industry to decide what a group of workers in it should receive. And by extension, whether they should get a pay rise.
Contrast those poll figures with the 2016 Luas drivers dispute that had over 75% against the striking drivers.
This despite the fact that the company paying the Luas drivers is a multinational French company that last year had revenues of €6.6 billion. Not the public purse, as is the case with the nurses.
In fact, several arguments were made this week that praised the work of the nurses while for no reason denigrating that done by the Luas drivers.
It’s not the first time either. During the Luas dispute, the drivers were disparagingly and misleadingly compared to others in the medical profession, this time junior doctors.
In the Dáil on Thursday, Ruth Coppinger TD accused the government of doing similar by “pitting workers against each other ” to “divide and conquer” industrial disputes.
Tánaiste Simon Coveney denied that charge, suggesting Coppinger wanted to encourage more strikes.
To be clear, this is not about comparing the work done by nurses and Luas drivers.
They are very different jobs and the public rightly places a great importance on the care provided by nurses and sees the conditions they work under.
But this is about acknowledging a number of things.
The first is that rates of pay, rightly or wrongly, are not simply based on the value the public places on a particular job. Or even how difficult that work is.
Wages are also not set based on whether an individual or their chosen profession is seen as moral or good, or even whether the public places a high value on it.
As the recent survey of Irish executive pay showed, seven-figure salaries are frequently in the realm of banks, bookies and construction firms. Not exactly industries seen by the public as bastions of morality.
What’s more, wages are not set in proportion to the amount of time an individual spent in college either. Ask any PhD student.
Instead, pay is more likely to be based on the employer’s profits and the demand for the position in question.
And that latter point is the nurses’ primary argument in this dispute, that staff shortages have created a demand for their work that is not being met by adequate pay.
They’re probably right too such is the level of agency nursing and hospital overcrowding.
Again, none of this is ideal but it is the reality.
And in acknowledging that reality it must also be accepted that any group of workers knows their own employment status better than anyone else.
And it’s for that reason that in any pay dispute those taking the action should at least be given a sympathetic ear. Not least because the improvement of pay standards is to everyone’s benefit.
Stand with the nurses when they strike yes, but don’t stand by when others do the same.
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I wonder if there would be a delay if ( God forbid) it was one of their own.
I somehow doubt it.
Just to clarify that I do not wish illness on any child.
Mike. my child also was diagnosed with brain cancer. in kids crumlin hospital there are two sections to the ward a general section probably around 8 rooms with 2 or4 beds from what i recall , they also had a couple of rooms that could be closed off for infections, There is also a section at the back where there are 6 room i think that are for special reasons where children are so sick and have completely lost their immune system, to get to this you have to go through a staging and gowning area removing shoes and coats and no visitors were allowed it was complete isolation. to get in here you have to be really really sick . my child was in here for about a month, During this time (and you might recall Pat kenny’s daughter being diagnosed with cancer ) pat kenny daughter came in for some treatment. now she didn’t need to be in this section at all and really should not have been there. but because of their status they were given one of the rooms, Both her parents and daughter were allowed to swan in and out and sometimes he would forget to take his shoes off. it was pretty disgusting that they were allowed to override procedure just because of who they were. so in answer to your question people with status defiantly get preferential treatment even at the expense of other children’s health .
I know the ward Denis and the hygiene protocol involved.
We partake in the drive4charity and we were brought on a guided tour.
We were only shown around outside and it was heartbreaking.
How is your wee one doing ?.
Getting back on topic, that is a harrowing and obscene account of “money talks”. The children on wards like that need a sterile environment and even the slightest infection could kill them.
5 years clear and doing very well in school. a joy to us everyday. to be honest before that I would not have been able to point kenny out in a crowd have no interest in rte or media like that. can tell you now I will remember his face to my grave. arrogant fcuker. putting other kids lives at risk. made our blood boil I can tell ya.
Denis I am so glad to hear that and many healthy years ahead to you all.
My Son was 3 months premature (25 years ago) and you should see the bloody size of him now.
I remember like yesterday the feeling of helplessness and panic.
I can’t in my wildest nightmare envisage what you were going through.
The thing about the “elite” is that they don’t know any other way and I don’t think they want to know.
I wouldn’t wish bad on any child on the planet regardless of their parentage and judging by your posts Denis I know you would think the same.
yeah agree its the feeling of helplessness that gets you the most. I work in engineering myself and can’t rest unless I’m fixing things, my mind is always on the go. I remember looking at my son and just thinking dispare that it was one thing I could not fix, and that all my skills were basically useless.
But it is amazing what they can do nowadays. Years and years ago your son would have had very little chance, mine as well probably. It’s great he came through that premature, I know it was hell for you. The team of doctors and nurses at that hospital and all others around the country deserve way more than what this government are doing. They need to cop on and pull the finger out and stop all this red tape crap when kids lives are at serious risk. sometimes you feel they need to be thrown in at the deep end just to see what normal people have to put up with. Not that you would wish that on anyone.
So now you know Minister, what are you going to do?
So Ms Kathleen Lynch you know about it so what are you going to do about it besides talk about it?
I was thinking just the same thing. Lynch is just flapping her lips the sake of making some sounds.
How can she not help to sort this out, surely she must understand the huge pressure and stress that the child’s parents are under and how such a situation affects the whole families health not just the poor child’s.
Some TD’s have a swinging brick instead of a heart.
That picture of poor Lucy has brought tears to my eyes. Every night I go in and kiss my kids good night and often stand there admiring them in their sleep and thinking how much I love them. I couldn’t begin to fathom the thinking of if that was my daughter lying there. My heart goes out to Lucy’s parents and Lucy herself. I hope so much she gets better.
To see what is happening here and all the layers of management and waste in the HSE just sickens me to the core. On one hand the government want to give free GP to kids under 6 and then on the other they are leaving a poor indefensible child to suffer through cancer without so much as providing the family a medical card to help with the costs.
Shame on you to the HSE and the Government. You really have sunk to the lowest levels now
too quick to roll out the red carpet to corporate tax avoiders whilst cutting medical cards for children.
”trust me” said minister lynch and it was at that point i stopped readinh
My little boy was diagnosed with cancer at 15 months and sadly lost his battle a year later.
We were given a medical card and it was one less thing we had to worry about.
This government really needs to cop on and get a grip.
MRs Lynch if you are aware of this issue then SORT it out instead of hand wringing
I am so sorry for your loss John. That must be every parents nightmare.
May he rest in peace.
Kathleen will do what they all do,…. What’s good for Kathleen
How can people honestly say they would vote for or support a government that chooses to save a couple of grand a year over ones life. It’s shameful. I dunno how any decent human being would stand over this.
Why the hell would we take her word for it? Politicians have very rarely proven themselves to anything but self-serving liars.
Well now you know and when are you going to issue the medical card? NO CARD, NO VOTES, NO EXCUSES
Give medical cards to the ones who need it, ie can’t afford health bills. Take it from those who can afford them. It is not going to be easy to figure out who is who but they should start somewhere.
It should be like the European model (universal healthcare for all).
Sorry, why was Leo Varadkar in Strasbourg and not here looking after his department? Secondly I wouldn’t trust anything any politican says about health. The system has gone from awful under Fianna Fail to abysmal under this government.
Totally agree Mary,it seems mister varadkar prefers to get involved in just about everything but what he is supposed to do.
I was prepared to give him the benifit of the doubt but he has shown that he is no better than those gone before him.
If your have cancer you should have an automatic entitlement to a medical card.. you easily forget where you came from Kathleen .. how can you sleep when you know the situation. .
Your aware of it. So…do something about it.
How many med cards did lynch get for people in her constituency just for a vote.Sickens me to hear this hypocrite inform a committee that she is aware of this young child position does nothing about it… why is it because she will not get her a vote……..Who makes these decisions Doctors employed by the HSE or pen pushing civil servants,..,Its not as if the child is going to go mad purchasing meds for her mothers pals…Its for the child the card…we will see a bonaza of card issuing as the election gets closer be like confetti at a wedding
Delighted she is familiar with my daughter Lucy’s Case, Lucy is an amazing child battling a horrible type of Cancer, thank you for your supportive comments , Angela
I wish you and your family all the best, having been there myself my thoughts are with you. people always say I don’t know what I would do or how I would cope if it happened to me. but whey you are thrown into the situation you just get on with it. eventually things sink in and it is hard, but you never give a second though to your kids well being and always will do anything for them.
We are paying enough taxes to have a good health care system!! So why don’t we have one?? We’re paying as much tax as other countries that can manage to put a good health system in place and people actually get something back for their taxes. This government just takes. Knowing about something and doing something about it are two different things. We’ve seen it this week with TFMR being shot down again. This government is more talk than action!
Ireland spends 8% of GDP on health. In comparison, France, Germany, Netherlands – all spend about 12% of GDP on health. (the USA spends 16%)
I’m sure if we increased the current spend by 50% (50% more nurses, doctors, etc) – we would get better care.
I don’t see any politicians saying we should be paying more tax for better healthcare – they all promise tax cuts (SF – no water tax, FG – less income tax etc).
If you know all about it minister, pick up your phone first thing in the morning, call the relevant people and get that poor kid sorted. What sort of disgusting individuals are making these decisions. Shame on you all in allocation of cards.
Why doesnt the Journal put in a FOI to the HSE enquiring as to how many politicians current or retired are in receipt or whose family members are in receipt of a medical card….Now that might make for interesting reading….
Also I hope this poor girl gets what she is entitled too, our healthcare system is shameful!
poor kathleen will never have to worry especially when she has our private at her disposal if she ever gets sick.
Trust a minister?..seriously. ..? It’s a bit like asking somebody to jump from plane and not falling..and to you Minister, trust has to be earned. .you’ve done nothing to earn that….just like ur salary!
@shane. Racism is alive and well in modern Ireland.
My comment was in response to a racist comment that had since been pulled.
Destroy them all in election
Now that the poor girls situation has been highlighted why the hell can’t they cut out the red tape and bureaucracy bullshit and just give her the card! As a mature student I got medical cards for myself, my wife and my two children without even applying for them! As my wife earns a decent wage we felt that we didn’t need them so sent them back, give her one of those!
Thanks Mark, I have now been offered over 50 medical cards from people who have said they do not need them sadly I can’t take one for Lucy
Still no accurate diagnostics or treatment available for the hundreds of Irish Lyme disease patients who are fundraising & travelling abroad in there droves for help.
And you can’t solve the problem with racism either…
Yet again the people of this country are being punished for actually working and earning a living. Do feck all for all your life and we’ll look after you, and your kids through sickness and health, work, pay taxes and try to be a contributing member of society and we’ll ride you and your family til it breaks you, and then rub it in if you do need something.
Where’s leo? I thought he was in charge…
He’ll probably pop up tomorrow with his opinions about education or something.
I hope he hasn’t climbed back into the closet
Lynch has just given the standard ministerial response which is to kick the can down the road, let somebody else deal with it and don’t raise your profile. Keep ticking along without actually doing anything of note or substance, ever, let the money roll in and then ride off into the sunset with the pension in the back pocket.
These people are parasites. I don’t know how they sleep at night, I couldn’t
I think it’s even worse when ministers know about the little girl’s suffering, shame on them.
“Trust me”……who in their right mind would trust you minister?
Trust me !! That’s the problem we don’t.
So beautiful
So peaceful
So sad
So very sad.
Being aware of Lucy’s story and others like it is a long way from doing something about it ! It is scandalous what this and other families are going through.
As someone from Cork I predict Kathleen Lynch’s time in government will be coming to an end in the next election.
Trust me……who in their right mind would trust you minister?
You just had to be racist didn’t you. Does it make you feel like a tough guy because you come across as ignorant.
Ye all saw Kenny’s reaction in the dail it was on TV so vote accordingly u will have your chance soon
So a doctor visit card is better than a medical card. What a load of rubbish
This is disgusting, they give cards to healthy people and deny those most in need purely to save money, GIVE THIS GIRL A CARD NOW.
That statement about the doctor visit card being better due to not having to pay prescription charges is partcularly stupid. How does she think people with such cards get their medicines other than paying for them full price? Did she really say that?
TRUST YOU!???? Seriously???????? This poor girl and her mother did- and how did you help them!!?!?!!??????!?? Hope cancer will eat U soon!
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