The Government have refused to be drawn on reports that nursing staff who undertake strike action could have their pay incraases frozen.
The topic which was mooted by the Minister for Health Simon Harris has on Wednesday, once again came to the forefront of conversation in the Dáil this afternoon when Fianna Fáil deputy leader Dara Calleary, asked the Tánaiste Simon Coveney whether or not if the reports were true.
Although the Tánaiste sympathised with the nursing staff over retention issues, Mr Coveney said that the Government were looking at all legal options in regards to the Public Pay Service Agreement.
Mr Coveney who claimed that it was the Government’s responsibility to review all legal avenues, also stated that the nursing unions had a responsibility of fulfilling their obligations.
The question surrounding pay increase freezes comes after the Minister for Health Simon Harris confirmed that the Government were reviewing all legal avenues, after some 37,000 nurses took to the picket lines to protest against the current retention and pay issues in the sector.