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Taoiseach's comments about health service employees a 'cheap shot' - Merrigan

Date Released: 12 Oct 2006

SIPTU's National Industrial Secretary, Matt Merrigan described the Taoiseach's negative comments about health service employees as a  'cheap shot.'

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern told an IBEC conference in Dublin on October 10, that problems in health and other public services could not be solved unless working practices changed.  He went on to suggest that those in the health sector only worked a six-hour day and took Friday afternoons off .

"Mr. Ahern was being totally disingenuous," said Matt Merrigan. "He was  totally incorrect in relation to the hours staff work in the health services. 

"During the talks on the new social partnership agreement - 'Towards 2016' - health sector unions signed up to negotiations on extending the working day for staff, but we are still waiting for comprehensive proposals from the management side," he said.

Miriam McCluskey, SIPTU's National Nursing Official, added that "the assertion that people work six hours a day until lunchtime on Friday was not an accurate reflection of how nurses work."





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