Covid 19 (Health): Statements
Dail Éireann — 2021-01-13
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Róisín Shortall (SD), Dublin North-West

I look forward to getting that information.
In relation to healthcare staff, they are all under enormous pressure at present. They are doing incredible work in extraordinarily difficult circumstances. There are two particular areas where they need the Minister's support. The first is in relation to public health doctors. Traditionally, they have been very badly treated in this country. They have been campaigning and have been made promises that their status would be upgraded. It is the only specialty that does not have the status of consultant. There is no explanation for that. They have the same qualifications as all other consultants. The Minister gave a commitment to address this issue. It has not yet been done. The doctors had to threaten strike action and, because the virus situation was so bad, they withdrew that. When will the Minister sort this out? The Minister has been making promises since he came in to office and he made many promises before he came in to office. When will the Minister sort that out? When will the Minister upgrade specialists to a consultant grade?

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Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:48:58+00:00
Sitting date: 2021-01-13