asked the Minister for Health if the claim made by the trade unions for £1 per week increase on behalf of nursing and non-nursing personnel employed in hospitals throughout the Republic of Ireland will be conceded; and if the wage increase referred to will be paid from the date of application.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wage Increase for Hospital Personnel.
49.
Mr. O'Malley
The claim to which the Deputy refers cannot be considered in isolation from claims made on behalf of employees in the public services generally. As soon as an award is made in relation to that sector, I shall issue a recommendation in regard to staff employed in the health services, both local authority and voluntary.
Surely the Minister is aware that this demand is for an increase of £1 a week, and according to the Government, it is supposed to apply mainly to lower-paid workers? Why is it that those in the public service must be kept waiting until everybody else in the country has been paid before they get an offer?
Mr. O'Malley
As the Deputy will be aware, the Minister for Finance in his recent financial statement mentioned the cost of extending to State-paid personnel the current pay increase. I do not think that the Deputy will have to wait much longer for a satisfactory announcement on this matter.
Mr. O'Leary
Can the Minister tell us if there will be a retrospective effect in regard to this claim for those in the public service?
Mr. O'Malley
It would not be for me to say that.
Mr. O'Leary
Is it not the position then, that the longer this claim is delayed, the less these people will receive when it comes to a final settlement?
Mr. O'Malley
As I said, I do not think the decision will be delayed very much longer.
Is it true that they are awaiting the report of the County Managers Association?
Mr. O'Malley
No; these gentlemen do not come into these discussions.
I am afraid they do.
Is it not true that wage negotiations have to be carried out with the Managers Association and the application goes to the Minister for sanction?
Mr. O'Malley
I can assure the Deputies that the City and County Managers Association, per se, have nothing to do with this matter.
With non-nursing personnel?
Mr. O'Malley
With the specific question.
I have had negotiations with the county managers for this sum, and in some cases they made an offer and in other cases they were waiting until a pattern emerged.
Having regard to the fact that so many thousands of non-nursing personnel in local authority employment are in receipt of wages far below the wages of industrial workers, would the Minister not agree that this continued delay in approving the payment of the £1 to these workers is causing great hardship and will he make representations to the Minister for Finance to wake up in the matter?
Mr. O'Malley
It is not a question of waking up. The announcement will be made shortly in a satisfactory manner.
Question No. 50.
Would the Chair allow me to ask one further question?
What is it?
Is the Minister aware that the County Managers Association have been attempting to fix 1st June as the date for the operation of this £1 a week increase and will he use his power—I think that is the word he once used himself—to see that at least 1st April will be the date?
Mr. O'Malley
As I have said, the City and County Managers Association are not the appropriate body in this matter.