Anger at newspaper cartoon of Irish nurses

A cartoon about Irish nurses has been widely criticised online after it was published in The West Australian newspaper.

The satirical piece of art shows Irish nurses dancing alongside a leprechaun in front of hospital patients.

The cartoon is in relation to a row over plans to recruit 150 nurses - due to a predicted shortage of graduates - by a Western Australian hospital.

The St John of Healthcare organisation is currently seeking to hire Irish nurses to increase staff levels ahead of new facility openings.

Group chief executive Michael Stanford told the paper: "We were not going to take the chance (of missing out on nurses), so we have made sure we have sufficient staff for what we need to do," he said.

However, the move has been criticised in some quarters as an attempt to hire from poorer economies instead of locally.

"I object to overseas nurses being seen as a first resort, rather than a last resort," said state secretary Mark Olson.

"It's short-sighted if employers are constantly looking to poor economies when they can pick up graduates in Australia," he added.

Visitors to the 'Irish People Living in Australia' Facebook page have vented their anger at the comic by cartoonist Dean Alston.

One said: "I wonder how many Irish nurses have helped/ treated the friends & family of staff at that paper ? I'm all for a joke but it's just boring at this stage!"

When contacted by the people who run the Facebook page, the cartoonist's email response was: "When I was in my teens there was a joke. "What is an Aussie?" Answer. An Irishman with half of his brain removed. Most Irish people I know have a great sense of humor. I'm Irish. I should know. I hope you feel better soon. Cheers, Dean."