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LD/MR

16 February 2011

Ms Mary Coughlan TDTanaiste & Minister for Health and ChildrenDepartment of Health and ChildrenHawkins HouseHawkins StreetDublin 2

Re: Cut to Pre-Registration Nurses/Midwives Salary - Fourth Year Rostered

Placement

Dear Minister

I refer to the decision by your government, taken without any consultation, to reduce,and ultimately phase out, the salary paid to fourth year pre-registration nurses andmidwives during their rostered placement when they replace qualified staff.

As you will undoubtedly know the INMO views this decision as being fundamentallyflawed, cruel, unjust and totally unfair.

While noting your announcement, of last Friday, 11 th February 2011, to review thedecision, we must make the following points:

the review, as proposed, is inadequate and seems to suggest that whilemaintaining some payment, into the future, some cut will still have to take place;and

the cut, already applied to fourth years, would remain in place as thegovernment decision, as it applies to 2011, will not be reviewed.

It remains our view that this pay cut will, without doubt, impose severe hardship uponthese young professionals. It must be remembered that, very frequently, theindividual must move to another location, in order to take up the rostered placement,and meet all of the accommodation and other costs that automatically arise.

This letter is being handed in by a delegation from todays national protest marchand rally which has been organised as the latest phase in our nationwide campaignseeking a reversal of this pay cut.

As previously specified we will continue to notify our 6,000 strong pre-registrationnurses/midwives, and their families, of the position of each political party in relation

to our straight demand that this pay cut be reversed by any incoming government.We have, in addition, asked all members, of the INMO, to factor in the position of

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each political party, on this issue, when determining how to cast their vote at nextweeks general election.

Against this background, and in the absence of any previous discussions on thisissue, we are again requesting an immediate meeting, with your department, in order

to see if this issue can be resolved in a manner which respects the collectiveagreement in place since 2002 on this issue. Please note we are now scheduled tomeet with your health spokesperson, Mr. Barry Andrews TD, on tomorrow morning,Thursday, 17th February 2011, to also discuss this matter from the perspective ofFianna Fail.

In conclusion we would reaffirm our absolute view that this was a mistaken decision,taken by your government, which needs to be reversed without further delay.

We await hearing from you, by return, in relation to our request for an early meetingwith your department.

Yours sincerely

__________________________LIAM DORANGeneral Secretary