asked the Minister for Health if discussions have taken place with county managers with a view to settling the present dispute in regard to time off allowed to dispensary doctors; and what steps are being taken to resolve this dispute.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dispensary Doctors' Time Off.
7.
I have been in touch with the County and City Managers' Association and with representatives of the medical organisations concerned. It is proposed to hold a meeting shortly between officers of my Department and representatives of both parties with a view to considering proposals for a settlement of the dispute. I hope that the discussion will produce agreement.
Will the Minister tell his colleague that the matter is one of great urgency? It is not clear to me or to the profession in general what he means by the word "shortly". Can we expect it within a couple of weeks?
I would say probably.
The Minister will agree it is a very important matter because, in the meantime, they have had to take this action and there could be repercussions throughout the country.
I was involved originally and I must say I appreciated the fact that the union postponed the implementation of the plan.
The Minister will agree that he was very much in favour of this proposal?
Would the Minister agree that when he was Minister for Health he said he would make representations to the Minister for Finance to get him to provide the money necessary to provide this time off for MOs?
There is no question about accepting the principle of the desirability of these people having time off. The principle has not been changed in any way.