Health unions have expressed concern about what they say is low staff morale in the health service.
Four unions, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), SIPTU, Fórsa, and the Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (INMO) have been appearing before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health.
The IMO said that low morale impacts performance, trust, professional relationships and the physical and mental wellbeing of health care workers.
The union said that ultimately it impacts patient care.
Chief Executive of the IMO Susan Clyne said that the findings from a recent IMO survey showed that 94% of doctors report low to moderate morale.
Of these, 67% say morale has deteriorated over the past year.
Fórsa National Secretary for Health and Social Care Professionals Linda Kelly said that understaffing, poor retention, weak consultation and pay inequalities are creating a vicious circle.
She told the committee that experienced staff leave, pressure grows on those who remain, morale falls further and services become harder to sustain.
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Sector Organiser of SIPTU's Health Division Liz Cloherty said the current cost of living crisis has dramatically impacted all workers in Ireland.
She said that around 78% of the HSE workforce is predominantly women, many of whom are faced with childcare costs.
INMO Director of Professional Services Tony Fitzpatrick said that over 12 nurses and midwives are assaulted physically or verbally in the workplace each day.
He said the impact this has on entire teams across the acute and community settings cannot be ignored.
The HSE said that over 25,000 staff took part in its staff survey last year, and overall job satisfaction, enthusiasm for work and a feeling of being trusted to do the job all remain high.
It said that satisfaction with the quality of care or service given to patients and having clear goals and objectives have increased since 2023, when the previous survey was done.
The HSE said it is committed to its core values of care, compassion trust, and learning.
