I, too, want to mention the nurses' dispute but from a particular angle. The mantra from the Minister is that we cannot breach the public service stability agreement. I do not accept that to deal with the nurses would do that by the way and a cursory look at page 10 of the agreement clearly shows that to be the case. I point out to the Leader of the Opposition that the Minister himself is in breach of the PSSA, specifically phases 1 and 2 of the support staff evaluation process as agreed under the terms of the PSSA which was completed on 4 October last year. Within the terms of this process any award made is meant to be implemented within six weeks.

Despite correspondence from SIPTU, the HSE refused to engage in respect of a series of pay awards made via the job evaluation process. Specifically, 5,200 health care assistants are entitled, under this agreement, to a 5% to 7% increase in pay and 600 central sterile services department, CSSD, operations lab aids and theatre porters are due a 7% increase. What did the Minister do? He ignored the job evaluation process from the PSSA study and his Department refused to meet the union. The Department of Finance also refused to meet the union and the Estimates were drawn up without including these awards which were made under the PSSA. We have a Minister who is insisting that there be no breach of the PSSA and who is in breach of it. He has ignored calls by SIPTU to address this issue. What a bloody cheek. It is about time we had action.

Unfortunately, in the context of industrial relations, Fine Gael is a little like Theresa May when it comes Brexit - it does not have the first clue what it is doing. It is time to stop prevaricating and enter negotiations with the INMO.

There must be a full moon tonight.

Above all, it is time to pay the support staff what they are owed under the PSSA. The Minister is in breach of the agreement. As a union man, I would expect the Leader to condemn that and call for the moneys to be paid.

I condemn populism.