Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for the opportunity to raise on the Adjournment the negotiations between the Department of Health and psychologists in the health services regarding pay and the threat of industrial action. I thank the Minister who has come to the House to reply to the debate.
In 1974 the Labour Court established a pay link between psychologists employed by the Department of Education and the Department of Health. Fourteen years later further confirmation of this pay link was established in an arbitration award. In effect, this meant that subsequent pay increases given to psychologists employed by the Department of Education applied automatically to those employed by the Department of Health and it was not necessary to submit a specific claim to have those increases paid. However, this did not happen in relation to a pay increase of 15 per cent which was paid in three phases during the period December 1986, December 1987 and July 1988. It did not apply to a further 16 per cent increase which was paid also in three phases during the period May 1991, March 1992 and September 1992. I am not an expert on industrial procedures but it has been suggested that psychologists in the health services who are involved in this case are making a new claim. This is a ludicrous position and makes a complete laugh of industrial procedures.
I am aware that psychologists in the health boards have officer status under the boards, while psychologists in the Department of Education are permanent civil servants. While conciliation and arbitration procedures for those two groups are similar they are progressed in different arenas. I am also aware that under Civil Service procedures, psychologists as professional employees in the Department of Education have established a pay relationship with inspector grades in that Department. Those facts cannot be allowed as reasons for refusing psychologists their fair pay.
Psychologists in the health services have made four salary claims since 1974. Their first claim was dealt with by the Labour Court and subsequent claims by the conciliation and arbitration scheme. It is crystal clear that the findings from those claims established a pay relationship between psychologists working in the Department of Health and those working in the Department of Education. It is also clear that since pay increases were granted to psychologists in the Department of Education from 1988, the established pay relationship has not been honoured.
Despite the views commonly held throughout the country psychologists do not earn a fortune. When one considers the amount of time, money and energy spent educating and training psychologists and the basic salary of only £15,000, is it any wonder that so many psychologist posts remain vacant? For most psychologists it is more lucrative to go abroad to work.
Psychologists in the health services provide an important service and as society changes their professional skills will be sought more and more. I trust that the importance of this service will be fully recognised, that negotiations will be recommenced and a satisfactory solution found.
I understand the employers have offered partial reinstatement of the agreed relationship from 1 January next year. I am aware the Minister made a number of statements in this regard and I ask him to reconsider that position. Four meetings have taken place between the parties, the local government staff negotiation boards and IMPACT, but unfortunately negotiations have broken down. I understand another strike looms in the health services today and that simply cannot be allowed happen. Psychologists in the health services provide assistance to the most vulnerable and abused in our society and every effort must be made to allow their professional services continue.
