asked the Minister for Health whether he has as yet sanctioned the proposal of the Waterford Board of Public Assistance to pay overtime to the board's hospital attendants pending a settlement of the question of the staffing of the board's hospitals, so as to enable the introduction of a 48-hour week for the hospital employees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waterford Hospital Attendants.
11.
I regret that I cannot see my way to agree to the payment of overtime to the staff in question in respect of hours worked by them in excess of 96 per fortnight.
Is the Minister aware that an agreement on a temporary basis was entered into between the union responsible for the attendants and the county manager, as an act of good faith on the part of the union to enable the manager to get time to consider the question of the staffing which arose as a result of the change in relation to hospitalisation in County Waterford? In these circumstances, would the Minister consider the payment of overtime, which was simply one-eighth plus normal time, as an exceptional circumstance?
I should require some further time to consider that. It would be an innovation which would have repercussions elsewhere.
Questions Nos. 12 to 17 postponed.