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Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

Reilly apologises for 'stick to the day job' remark to singing nurse

It’s not been the best week for the Minister for Health…

HEALTH MINISTER JAMES Reilly was forced to apologise to a nurse who sang as he left the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) conference yesterday when he remarked “stick to the day job”.

After arriving to the silent treatment, the Minister’s speech to the conference had been relatively well received having joked about his fall earlier in the week and announced the appointment of a chief nursing officer, drawing applause from delegates.

But the mood changed as Reilly concluded his speech and departed the conference hall in Letterkenny with nurse Bolatito Aderemi, 61, singing “all we are saying, is enough is enough” which prompted Reilly to quip: “Stick to the day job”.

The incident can be seen here from 6 minutes and 15 seconds in.

The remark drew criticism from nurses and Reilly later revealed how he defused the matter by meeting privately with Aderemi and apologising to her:

YouTube: IRLINMO

INMO president: Reilly “has shown little or no regard” for nurses, midwives

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    Mute Mark McGrath
    Favourite Mark McGrath
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    Jun 2nd 2022, 6:08 PM

    Jaysus lads, we should have been bribing Red C polls years ago. It seems that all it takes for FFG to find money from the heretofore mythical “magic money tree ” and start spending on projects that should have been done many years ago, is to have the Shinners riding high in the polls!!!
    Who knew???
    Expect plenty of auction politics in the weeks ahead as the qualification for the Ministerial pensions come in to play in July and this disaster of a Government limps on towards its inevitable early demise……

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    Mute Brian Hackett
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    Jun 2nd 2022, 7:02 PM

    And that exactly what the money will be spent on….. NOT..

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    Mute Graham Manning
    Favourite Graham Manning
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    Jun 2nd 2022, 8:35 PM

    It’s autistic students not students with autism.

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    Mute v39e84kK
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    Jun 3rd 2022, 3:21 PM

    @Graham Manning: Apparently the former is discouraged as it implies being autistic is all the person is. Personally I abhor word policing but that’s how it was explained to me. Seems like too many people have jobs figuring out what’s offensive.

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