3 days ago
HSE condemns 'racist abuse and assaults' targeting Indian community in Ireland
THE HEALTH SERVICE EXECUTIVE (HSE) has condemned recent high-profile incidents of 'racist abuse and assaults' against members of Ireland's Indian community and other foreign nationals.
In a statement, the HSE said it 'unequivocally condemned' the attacks, adding that it is 'proud of the organisation's diverse workforce, all of whom are critical for provision of services for patients across Ireland.'
International workers make up over 15% of the HSE's workforce. Among nurses and midwives, 23% come from India, Africa, and other Asian countries.
Earlier this week, Tánaiste Simon Harris described the Indian community's role as a 'positive contribution' to the health service and many other industries.
According to the HSE, 'The effective operation of many essential health services in Ireland would be seriously threatened without the support of the many thousands of international staff that work in our hospitals and community services every day.'
President Michael D. Higgins also condemned the attacks, calling them 'despicable' and expressing a 'deep sense of gratitude' to the Indian community for all they have added to Ireland.
The Indian Embassy in Dublin has advised its citizens to take 'reasonable precautions for their personal security' and to 'avoid deserted areas' following what it described as an increase in physical attacks.
Higgins said such incidents are in 'stark contradiction to the values that we as people hold dear.'
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Anne Marie Hoey, Chief People Officer of the HSE, called the attacks 'unacceptable'.
People should not be afraid to leave their house or go to work for fear of abuse.
'We are proud of our organisation's diversity and are dependent on all our staff for the delivery of frontline, essential services. Ensuring the safety of all employees and service users is a priority for the HSE.
'This will have a dramatic impact on staff levels and the provision of health services and should be a cause for alarm for people in this country,' Hoey said.
She added that counselling and supports are available for staff affected by abuse or attacks.
Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) Deputy General Secretary Edward Mathews issued a similar statement last week, saying such attacks 'should not be tolerated.'
'Nearly 35,500 nurses and midwives have come here to work from other parts of the world and provide essential services,' Mathews said.
'We do not want Ireland to be a place where nurses and midwives are afraid to work. Just as importantly, they and their families are rooted in our communities. They should not be afraid to go to and from their workplaces or anywhere else in their communities because of the disgraceful actions of some.'
The issue gained attention last month after an Indian man was the
victim of an unprovoked attack in Tallaght
.
A number of other Indian people in Ireland,
including a six-year-old girl in Co Waterford
, have been victims of separate assaults since then.
In one of the most recent assauls, an Indian man
was left hospitalised after being attacked by a group of teenagers
in Dublin's Fairview Park last weekend.
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