Student nurses in Dáil protest over pay

New nurses are seeking an urgent meeting with Health Minister James Reilly over claims that salary cuts are forcing graduates to emigrate or take up jobs in pubs instead of in the under-staffed health service.

Student medics made the call outside the Dáil yesterday during a major protest against Dr Reilly’s controversial nurse graduate scheme.

Under the policy, which was imposed last year after being revealed by the Irish Examiner in November 2012, new nurses entering the system have seen their expected salaries slashed to below the minimum wage.