asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that psychiatric nurses who were recently on strike have had their salaries reduced despite the fact that they had overtime leave due to them which would have compensated for the time lost while on strike; and if he will have the matter rectified.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Psychiatric Nurses.
10.
I am not so aware. This is a matter of detailed administration appropriate for determination in each case by the chief executive officer concerned.
Is the Minister serious when he says he is not aware that this situation has arisen? We had a tragic situation in the withdrawal of the services of the psychiatric nurses; because of the inactivity of the Department and of the CEOs of the health boards we had this strike on our hands. The people who had time due to them have now been victimised to the extent of the amount of salary or wages coming to them because of their days of leave. I want to state categorically that this is the fact, if the Minister is not aware of it and I want to know what steps he will take to rectify the position in order to avoid a further disruption of the psychiatric services?
I am not taking any action. If the Deputy inquires from the chief executive officer of the board in which he is interested he will find that this matter was discussed with the nurses in question.
When?
I could not give the exact date, quite recently.
It was not discussed up to last Thursday. I say this is not a matter for the CEOs but it is a matter for the Department of Health to make an order that the time off due to these men should be applied against the time they were out on strike. That is only a fair and just demand.
It is not a matter for me. Matters of conditions of service are entirely the responsibility of the CEOs.
11.
asked the Minister for Health when the Labour Court recommendations in relation to the psychiatric nurses dispute will be implemented.
It is presumed that the question relates to the recommendations made for the settlement of the promotion issue. The implementation of these recommendations is primarily a matter for each health board. There is no information in my Department as to the extent to which the various terms of the settlement have already been implemented or when they will be fully implemented under the various health boards. My approval has been granted in every case in which it has been requested to any of the terms of settlement.
Surely the Minister is aware that this is not a matter for the health board concerned? It has to be rectified by the Department before it comes back to those acting on health boards. We cannot buy a box of matches without the consent of the Department. Unless the Minister wakes up to the facts we shall have another withdrawal of services by the psychiatric nurses. Nobody wants this. I warn the Minister now that this will happen unless he takes steps immediately to rectify the position.
It is not my responsibility; it is a matter for the CEOs.
Of course it is the Minister's responsibility. We can do nothing without his consent.
My authority is given, whenever requested, to the sanctioning of proposals made by the Labour Court.
Is it true that the Minister said in this House that he did not approve of the settlement?
That is a personal view but at the same time I am sanctioning the Labour Court recommendations.
Was it not a rather extraordinary statement for a Minister for Health to make after a very serious dispute?
The Deputy may raise that on the Estimate and I shall deal with it very fully.
I should like to raise it now in case there would be another dispute, so as to put the blame where it should be.