The Minister for Health Dr James Reilly was this afternoon greeted with silence when he arrived to make his speech to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation conference Letterkenny.
The Minister was addressing the conference on its final day.
There was a small amount of heckling during his speech, but delegates clapped when the minister announced the establishment of the post of chief nursing officer at the Department of Health:
There was some controversy – as the minister left the hall a section of the audience began shouting “no more cuts” – one delegate began to sing and was told by the Health Minister not to give up the day job
Dr Reilly confirmed he later explained to the delegate in person that he didn’t mean any offence:
Yesterday,delegates at the conference voted unanimously in favour of an emergency motion on Croke Park II which could lead to industrial action.
Minister Reilly said talks would continue to try and avert any strike action:
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