An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-12
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Garret Ahearn (FG), Administrative Panel

I also acknowledge today as international nurses and midwives day. I agree with the comments made by Senators Clifford-Lee and Cosgrove about the work nurses and midwives do across this country. I saw when my two sons were born the calmness and professionalism midwives show in doing their work. I spoke last week in the Chamber about the work nurses do, particularly in Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel, and the service they provided when I was in hospital with sepsis. It was a nurse who spotted it and, luckily, I survived it.
It is important to say many of our nurses are not Irish-born. The services they provide are critical to people in this country. It was mentioned that 22% are from India and 8% from the Philippines. When we talk about a new Ireland and immigration, we always have to remember these people give so much to this country and support this country very significantly. We need to make sure that they are protected in work and outside of work and that they feel appreciated. For all nurses and midwives across Ireland, it is important we as a House recognise the huge contribution they make.
Also in relation to health, there is a protest today by the National Ambulance Service. It is a normal protest, which is welcome. It should be recognised that the service needs support. It needs more financial support. People who go into that work give an awful lot and work hours totally outside of the normal 9-to-5. It is not just pay and conditions. I spoke to a paramedic a number of weeks ago. A lot of it has to do with updating decisions made about how people are treated and where ambulances go. That system has only been updated twice since the 1940s and really needs an update soon.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-05-12/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:55+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-12