The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has once again reiterated his stance in regards to the ongoing nursing strike by saying money cannot be borrowed to fund pay incraases.
Speaking on the Dáil today, Mr Varadkar said there is currently no extra money to fund increases and to do so by borrowing hundreds of millions would be bad policy.
Mr Varadkar who apologised to patients, also said that he could justify massive outlay in the case of an emergency and if jobs were on the line, but in this situation that is not the case.
The Taoiseach who has come under increased from opposition leaders also stated that he had to be fair to patients, and therefore using any extra money earmarked for treatment funding would be unacceptable.
Mr Varadkar’s comments come as some 37,000 nurses took to the picket lines and held a series of work stoppages in protest of the current staff and pay shortages on the sector.