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FINE Gael’s handling of the issue of nursing student pay has been heavily criticized by his own TDs and senators who have complained that they were misinformed on the matter last week.
Tonight’s private parliamentary party meeting heard strong criticism about how the controversy had been handled, with many members complaining that they were not provided with adequate or timely information.
Last week, the government rejected a motion by private members of People Before Profit demanding that nursing students and midwives be paid, sparking a lot of controversy and criticism on social media.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said at the party meeting that the motion was not binding and had no funds and that, had the vote passed, it would not have been worth a single euro for a single nurse.
He said that many people who do not follow the policy did not realize this, and described the motion as a “cynical exercise” of PBP to make them look good, make Fine Gael look bad and do nothing for nursing students.
Mr. Varadkar said that the party needed to do better tactically and to anticipate possible traps set by the Opposition using the time of private members in the Dáil.
Dublin Mid-West TD Emer Higgins said the Opposition had done a great job politicizing emotional issues through motions by private members, saying controversies over nursing students and homes for mothers and babies had damaged the Fine Gael brand. He said that public administration responses were being given to TDs that lacked political overtones.
Former Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan described the issue as an “own goal” and said the controversy had portrayed Fine Gael as “insensitive.” He also admitted that he didn’t really know what he was voting on last week and only realized the seriousness of the matter when contacted by local media.
Prime Minister Colm Brophy said the party had lost the discussion on the salary of female nursing students with its own members. He said briefing notes on the matter had come too late, an opinion shared by Senator Garret Ahearn.
Senator John McGahon suggested that the party appoint someone to examine the motions of private members to make sure rebuttals are available.
Cork North-Central TD Colm Burke said Fine Gael had borne the brunt of the blame even though it was a problem being handled by a Fianna Fáil health minister. Mr. Burke noted that Stephen Donnelly was not present at Dáil’s debate on the motion last week.
Galway East TD Ciarán Cannon said the party was losing on social media day after day, citing a Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty Facebook post about the vote that had more than 6,000 shares.
Louth TD Fergus O’Dowd said government TDs should have time to speak during these discussions.
Wexford TD Paul Kehoe and Prime Minister Patrick O’Donovan said government TDs should be given time to put forward motions from private members, an opinion later agreed by the Taoiseach. .
Previously, Mr. Varadkar reported the part about the progress of the post-Brexit trade talks, admitting that efforts to reach an agreement “hang by a thread.”
However, he said the deal agreed by the UK and the EU on Tuesday on the implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol showed that the deal reached with former Prime Minister Theresa May three years ago had proven to be bulletproof.
There will be no firm border on the island of Ireland and access to the European single market and common travel areas has been protected, Varadkar said at the meeting.
On Covid-19 vaccines, Varadkar said it was possible that the European Medicines Agency could issue its approval before December 29.
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