Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Jul 1996

Vol. 467 No. 7

Written Answers. - Environmental Health Officers' Dispute.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn

Question:

66 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health the current position regarding the industrial dispute involving environmental health officers in view of the chaos being created in each health board area by this dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13942/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): IMPACT on behalf of environmental health officers, withdrew from negotiations which were being pursued under clause 2 (iii) — Annex 1 of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work and pursued industrial action in the form of a “work to rule” with effect from 15 January 1996.

A meeting was held, last Tuesday, 25 June 1996 between management and union, under the auspices of the Local Government Staff Negotiations Board. On Wednesday, 26 June 1996 I met with IMPACT and a delegation of environmental health officers to explore whether the provisions of the joint Government/I.C.T.U. statement of 15 May 1996 could usefully be applied to resolving the current impasse in the negotiations. I am pleased to advise the House that the meeting was of considerable assistance to both sides who are currently considering the many issues raised. I am confident that direct negotiations will be resumed in the very near future.