Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been inundated with letters from furious nurses and hospital staff and their families over his call for holiday leave to be postponed. It was suggested to Mr Varadkar that nurses, who are set to strike next week over pay and conditions, should get better allowances, free meals, and parking. Nurses did not take extended leave over the Christmas period, she added, saying that his comments were “stupid”. Perhaps you’ll come visit the hospitals over your break,” Mr Varadkar was told. One intern in a hospital told Mr Varadkar by email that his holiday remarks were “ludicrous”.

Source: Irish Examiner January 26, 2019 05:26 UTC