Sir, - I believe the Government and perhaps some of the public have lost sight of the real issues in the nurses' dispute. A huge number of nurses trained in Ireland are leaving this country to work overseas, where they are treated and paid properly. Irish nurses are in demand internationally and if we don't act quickly there will soon be a critical shortage of nurses in Ireland. We seem to be happily ignorant of the fact that Irish nurses are excellently trained but poorly paid when qualified. We are in effect training people for export.
Meanwhile, our own health service is being run and managed on a full-time emergency basis with seemingly no plans to change this situation in the future. An eminent heart surgeon has been quoted as saying that he could perform many more lifesaving operations if only he had more nursing staff at his disposal. He may have to settle for even fewer if the Government continues with its present line. Brian Cowen needs to spend more time fighting the cause of the Health Service at the Cabinet table and less time bullying nurses. After all, he is supposed to be the Minister for Health. - Yours, etc.,
John Bergin, Sandyford, Co Dublin.