Nurses bring protest to Ahern's door

Nurses and midwives will take their claims for better pay and working hours to the attention of the Taoiseach today.

Union members are to are to stage a protest at the Fianna Fáil Constituency Office in the Square, Portlaoise, while Bertie Ahern visits local candidates.

More than 40,000 members of the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) and Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) are demanding a 10.5% increase and a 35-hour working week, which has been refused by the HSE (Health Service Executive).

Demonstrators in Portlaoise and the surrounding areas are stepping up their action to express their disappointment that local Fianna Fáil and PD representatives did not attend their one-hour work stoppage at Portlaoise Hospital yesterday.

Minister for Finance Brian Cowen, Sean Flemming, John Moloney are among the Fianna Fáil TDs seeking re-election in the county, while John Foley is a party candidate. Minister of State Tom Parlon is hoping to secure votes in the area for the PDs.

“Members in Laois are fully committed to this campaign and are determined to continue with this action while at the same time maintaining the highest standards of patient care,” added INO Industrial Relations Officer, Joe Hoolan.