asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position on the negotiations between the local authority psychiatrists and his Department.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authority Psychiatrists.
8.
Negotiations are still proceeding and I wrote to the secretary of the IMA and to the secretary of the Medical Union last week inviting them to meet officers of my Department for further discussions.
Would the Minister not agree that any new offer would not infringe on the employer-labour agreement?
I have already had a long conference with the Medical Union and the Medical Association in regard to that matter and I made it quite clear to them that we must take into account the employer-labour conference agreement and the implications thereof.
Would the Minister not agree that this is only the 12th round and does not have any bearing on the agreement?
I would not agree. I have already made it clear that an offer was made in relation to this category of staff. This represented a considerable improvement in relation to the rate at which they are being remunerated at present.