People Before Profit have said nurses are “absolutely right” to strike following this week’s budget. 

Today, nurses began a lunchtime picket amid unhappiness about delays to a new public sector pay deal. Strikes are also due to take place on 14th and 21st October. 

In the budget, the Government announced €1.2 billion of public sector pay, which Jack Chambers described it as a "significant provision". 

However, on The Claire Byrne Show, Richard Boyd Barrett said nurses are right to hold out for more. 

“Those who are going out on strike on the 14th and the 21st are absolutely right,” he argued. 

“Because there was nothing in this budget to compensate for the rampant increases in the cost of living and inflation. 

“Both those that have happened already, which have meant that workers have lost… an estimated 5% of their income in real terms as a result of inflation.”

The Dún Laoghaire TD added that workers need a 10% pay rise to keep up with the cost of living. 

“To give everybody 10% [who earns] below €100,000 would cost 3.1 billion,” he said. 

“But the Government have only allocated €1.2 billion.”

Main image: Richard Boyd Barrett. Picture by: PA Images/Alamy.com.