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Nurses and Midwives welcome commitment to guaranteed jobs for graduates

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Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly today (Thursday) confirmed his commitment that 2020 graduate nurses and midwives would be guaranteed a permanent job in the health service on graduation.

 

The minister addressed final year students during an INMO webinar today and specifically thanked nursing and midwifery students and interns for their vital contributions to date during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The minister advised the group that he had received extremely positive feedback from the HSE regarding student nurses/midwives’ positive approach to getting involved and directly contributing during this most difficult time.

The minister also acknowledged that staffing levels were currently insufficient and stated that he was in the process of agreeing a winter plan with the HSE and that discussions with the INMO would be part of the process.

The INMO also welcome the minister’s commitment to full implementation of the safe staffing framework, and the importance of the recently convened Expert Group on Nursing and Midwifery.

“Nursing and midwifery students have given the best of themselves during this pandemic and it is only right that they can depend on a fair deal when they graduate,” INMO president Martina Harkin Kelly said.

“Safe staffing levels are key to ensuring good patient outcomes. Keeping an adequate supply of nurses and midwives in the health service at a time when demands are constantly increasing is going to be a challenge. To meet that challenge we need to keep graduates in the profession and in Ireland.”

INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha added that the INMO has written to the HSE and the Minister requesting immediate engagement on a funded workforce plan.

“Nurses and midwives in Ireland worked through the worst winter on record for hospital overcrowding, and then went straight into the major challenge of preparing the health services for COVID-19. They have provided excellent care during this period, many suffering ill-health as a result themselves.

“Their contributions have been extraordinary and selfless, as they faced the pandemic head on and without flinching, heroines and heroes all. They are now exhausted, and the risk of burnout and illness is very high. We are now seeking immediate engagement with Government and HSE on nursing and midwifery workforce planning, to ensure safe workloads and patient and staff safety for the coming winter.”

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Con O’Leary: Killarney loses a vibrant and popular personality

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has led the tributes to the late Con O’Leary, an extremely popular and very successful businessman in the town, who passed away in the […]

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Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has led the tributes to the late Con O’Leary, an extremely popular and very successful businessman in the town, who passed away in the early hours of Sunday.

Con was a vibrant and popular personality in Killarney where he operated The Laurels on Main Street, a thriving bar and restaurant, which he inherited following the passing of his father, Thado.
The business organisation said from a social perspective, The Laurels became the beating heart of the town and it was a landmark at the Market Cross in the same way as Clery’s clock was in the capital city.
Chamber said Con’s passing really marks the end of an era as he was one of a golden age of inspirational local business people who developed and built Killarney, through hard work, bravery and great commercial flair, and helped create the wonderful tourist attraction and holiday destination it is today.
“Con was very proud of Killarney and he played a very active part in progressing the town at many levels.
“He was a man that was never short of great ideas and his contribution to the business life of the town and as a director of Killarney Race Company was immense,” Chamber said.
“He was ahead of his time in many respects with the introduction by what became known as “the singing lounge” many years ago and The Laurels always led by example through its successes in the annual Killarney Looking Good competition”.
The business representative organisation noted that the O’Leary family has always been very supporting of the town and Con’s daughter, Kate, was a very dynamic Chamber President and is still a very valued member of the executive.
Chamber expressed deep sympathy to Con’s wife, Anne, children Kate, Niall, Tara and Lorna, sons-in-law, grandchildren, sisters, relatives and friends as well as the dedicated staff in The Laurels, past and present, who Con always had great time for and a great rapport with.

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All Roads Lead To Kerry For National Road Safety Conference

Kerry County Council is to host a two-day road safety conference at the INEC Killarney on May 28 and 29. The ‘Safer Roads’ road safety conference is an inter-agency event […]

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Kerry County Council is to host a two-day road safety conference at the INEC Killarney on May 28 and 29.

The ‘Safer Roads’ road safety conference is an inter-agency event focused on improving road safety, reducing traffic-related incidents, and sharing knowledge and best practices for safer road use. It encompasses various strategies and efforts across multiple domains, including road design, engineering, enforcement, forensic collision investigation, technology, education, collision trends, occupational driving, cycling and scooting, e-mobility, active & sustainable travel and on-road events.

In addition to this, AI, Virtual Reality and Driver Simulation will play a significant role at the conference, in improving safety by predicting and preventing accidents, optimizing traffic, and aiding the development of autonomous vehicles.

This ‘Safer Roads’ conference is a non-public event where road safety professionals, speakers and service providers from across Ireland, other EU countries and the UK will attend, including transportation experts, government and local authority officials, roads policing and vehicle inspection agencies, road safety advocates, educators and promoters, collision responders, cycling bodies and community safety networks.

Kerry County Council’s Road Safety Officer Declan Keogh said:
“Road safety has evolved over the years to a much broader scope, in terms of e-mobility, sustainability, technology and engineering for instance. It’s not just about the road or the vehicle anymore, but also about how technology, human behaviour, enforcement, and education intersect to reduce risks and prevent collisions. The ‘Safer Roads’ conference will involve and include every branch of the road safety tree, right across the board, and in doing so, we aim to increase road safety awareness, improve road user behaviour and decrease the collisions and carnage we see on our roads every day,”

The two-day conference also provides an opportunity for exhibitors to attend, and interested state bodies, businesses and service providers are invited to exhibit at the event to showcase their products and services and engage with delegates and officials at the conference.

Further information about the conference and how to register or exhibit can be found here. https://www.kerrycoco.ie/safer-roads-road-safety-conference/

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