asked the Minister for Health the steps he intends to take to end the dispute involving nurses who are members of the ITGWU and PNA in view of the serious and urgent threat to the health of patients.
Private Notice Questions. - Nurses' Dispute.
Following the rejection of an offer made by management to the unions concerned and the decision on industrial action by two of the unions after this rejection, the conciliation services of the Labour Court were offered. The parties in dispute met on 1 May and discussions were resumed yesterday. They are continuing at the moment and the House will understand that I cannot comment on their progress at this point of time.
I am fully conscious of the results of the dispute and am kept informed of the general situation in each health board area. I am very much concerned at the effects of the stoppage and would again appeal to the unions involved to discontinue their industrial action pending the conclusion of proceedings under the Labour Court.
Is the Minister aware that suggestions have been made by consultants in one area in Galway, in particular, that the lives of patients are at risk because of this dispute? Can the Minister say whether he is prepared to take any personal initiative in order to ensure that the most important element in this unhappy matter, the health of the patients and the fact that their lives may be at risk, is brought to an end as quickly as possible? Will the Minister comment on why the talks were allowed to break down at 5 o'clock on Friday morning and no further effort was made to arrange talks over the weekend?
I would correct the Deputy. The talks did not break down; they were specifically adjourned by agreement.
Worse again.
It is very important in industrial relations to get the terminology right in a situation like that. The talks were resumed later. I have been quite concerned that the talks would resume as early as possible and I made a direct appeal to the unions concerned which was also published in the papers. I was particularly pleased when the unions yesterday resumed the conciliation talks and I am hopeful for the outcome.
A Private Notice Question by Deputy Deasy.
May I ask a further supplementary?
It does not look as if this is a matter that should be pursued any further in view of the answers given. I am calling Deputy Deasy.
I wish to make a suggestion that might be helpful in the interests of the patients. Has the Minister considered utilising the Local Government Staff Negotiations Board machinery in relation to this matter as some of the parties involved appear to be unhappy at the way in which the present talks are being conducted? Why did the Minister not personally intervene before the weekend? Why did the Minister allow everybody to go away and water their tomatoes, or whatever, over the weekend while patients' lives were at risk?
I made an appeal on Friday, the day after the talks were adjourned. The Deputy will appreciate that the talks were adjourned by agreement so that consideration could be given to the possibilities which might be taken up when the talks would resume. I asked that these talks would resume as early as possible. In relation to the situation with the psychiatric nurses and the method by which the discussions are taking place, the psychiatric nurses are given, by statute, under the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act, 1954, the right to direct access to the Labour Court. It is open to them to move from conciliation to a formal hearing or investigation by the Labour Court, so the procedures are there for any further action. We have made it clear that we would co-operate in every way with such a step towards a formal hearing or investigation by the Labour Court. I hope that with such a development the unions would suspend their industrial action pending the findings.
What about the Local Government Staff Negotiations Board?
I am calling Deputy Deasy. We have closed that. There is no further supplementary.
I am sure the patients will be tremendously encouraged by the Minister's passive reaction to this.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
I totally reject the Deputy's suggestion which I regard as totally irresponsible from a front bench spokesman on the opposite side of this House, sitting beside his leader who has been making hints and suggestions to him.
I do not need hints.
It is totally irresponsible.
(Interruptions.)
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister has been closed down by the Taoiseach.
(Interruptions.)
I have done all in my power to ensure that the parties follow the procedures which are available. We have remained ready and willing to participate in the operation of the procedures. I have appealed directly and indirectly to have those procedures followed. I would have thought that the members on the opposite side of the House would have supported the procedures established by legislation. At the moment as the Deputies know well, conciliation talks are in progress and it is most irresponsible to make comments at this point in relation to such talks.
Urgent action is what is needed. We gave the Minister five days and deliberately said nothing. I did not expect the Minister to water his tomatoes at the weekend.
Order, please.