A Sligo/Leitrim Fianna Fail TD has hit out at his party's communications efforts, saying the health minister should have briefed party TDs and senators a week earlier about efforts to help student nurses financially.
Many TDs came in for severe criticism last week after the government voted down a Solidarity/People Before Profit proposal to pay student nurses who risked their lives in the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, said the debate about student nurses has been “very politicised” and he accused the opposition of putting forward a “simplistic motion” to share it on social media.
Fianna Fail politicians including Deputy MacSharry and former nurse and Mayor of Sligo Cllr Rosaleen O Grady have called for a clinical placement bursary to help student nurses with their expenses.
Last night, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly told TDs and senators at a parliamentary party meeting about how improved allowances for student nurses are on the way.
But a number of politicians, including Deputy MacSharry, said the information was a week late . . . and they strongly criticised what they saw as the delayed messaging on the issue, resulting in damage being done to the party among the public on what was an emotive issue.
Speaking to Ocean FM News this morning, Deputy MacSharry agreed Fianna Fail has communications problems at present.
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