Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Feb 1996

Vol. 462 No. 2

Written Answers. - Nursing Appointment System.

Séamus Hughes

Question:

90 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of a recent Labour Relations Commission or Labour Court recommendation or order affecting the procedures to be operated in the appointment system of nurses who are currently classified as temporary to full time positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4331/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): To my knowledge there are two recent Labour Court recommendations which concern the matter raised by the Deputy, namely, recommendation Nos. 15011 and 15074. The first of these related to a dispute concerning the filling of permanent vacancies between the South-Eastern Health Board and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union. The recommendation of the court, issued on 1 December 1995, stated:

The Court, on the basis of the information given, has concluded that concession of the Union's claim is precluded by Ministerial Directive. The Court, accordingly, does not recommend concession of the claim. The Court so recommends.

A second case was referred to the court in which the Psychiatric Nurses Association and SIPTU were seeking the holding of a competition for permanent posts which would be confined to long-term temporary nurses, again, in the South-Eastern Health Board area.

The recommendation of the Court, issued on 2 February 1996 was that the health board and the organisations representing long-term temporary nurses discuss the situation, and, if necessary, consult with the Department of Health with a view to putting in place arrangements which provide fair and equitable treatment for long-term temporary nurses applying for permanent vacancies in the health board.

This second recommendation is currently under consideration by local management and my Department. Discussions with the union side will follow in due course. I might also remind the Deputy that the union side raised the position of long-term temporary nurses in the restructuring discussions under theProgramme for Competitiveness and Work. As part of the offer currently being balloted on by the nursing unions, the management side indicated a willingness to discuss and consider sympathetically any proposals made in relation to the position of temporary nurses.