On International Nurses Day, we have guests of Deputy Devine who are nurses working in our healthcare system. I thank them and all those who work in our healthcare system, including nurses and those who assist them in their valuable work. My mother and aunt were both nurses. We have great regard for the work that nurses do.

I reiterate the sentiments expressed by Senators Clifford-Lee and Cosgrove on International Nurses Day in acknowledging the contribution of nurses and recognising them as health professionals. In doing so, I must mention that I visited the ambulance service workers on strike in Roscommon town today. They are also out in Boyle and Loughglynn. I respect the job the National Ambulance Service does. Like my colleague Senator Boyle, we have not been quiet in this Chamber about the ambulance service in recent months or in demanding a better service for the areas we represent. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I come from a constituency that does not have an emergency department. The dynamic model for the ambulance service does not work when there is no emergency department in the constituency. It means that when ambulance services are based at emergency departments, they do not provide the same level of support in certain area. A different model is needed for constituencies and counties that do not have emergency departments.

I spoke to an emergency medical technician, EMT, this morning. When he started his job 12 years ago, he was able to administer six medications. He is now able to administer 26 medications and he is still getting the same pay for his job. The responsibility, training and additional load that he has taken on is replicated across all employees of the National Ambulance Service. They need to be recognised for the job they do. They are currently being paid as ambulance drivers, not as healthcare professionals. They are healthcare professionals who are doing a job, often in harsher circumstances than other healthcare professionals. They never know what situation they will see until they arrive at a location.

Today, the HSE said the strike was regrettable. Regrettable is when I spill something on my tie driving up to Dublin on a Tuesday morning. It is unacceptable that we do not have a full service. We have a contingency plan in place at the moment, but we cannot afford this strike to go on and on. We need the Labour Court to intervene immediately and ensure that we do not go into a 48-hour strike next week.