Mary O'Rourke
Question:102 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he will take into account the legitimate demands of the retired nursing profession when he finalises the agreement for increases in nursing pay. [18230/96]
Written Answers. - Retired Nurses.
Limerick East): It is the Government's intention that retired nurses and other public servants will benefit from the local bargaining clause of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work pay agreement. The energies of the management side dealing with the nurses' claim have so far been concentreated on developing jointly with the nursing unions a set of proposals designed to bring to finality the nurses' claim under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work. The nursing unions are currently engaged on a consultation process with their members on revised proposals arising from the independent adjudication process provided for in the framework agreed between the Government and ICTU. They will shortly conduct a ballot on these proposals aimed at bringing this process to finality.
The pay proposals developed under the local bargaining clause of theProgramme for Competitiveness and Work pay agreement involve an element of restructuring. This applies to nurses and many other groups such as civil servants, clerical and administrative grades in the health boards and local authorities, teachers, gardaí etc. who have or are concluding agreements under the restructuring option of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work. Generally speaking, the agreements emerging do not provide for uniform increases across groups and in some cases even within grades. This complicates the position regarding adjustments to pensions and this question will now have to be considered in regard to all affected groups across the public service. Detailed discussions on this issue have yet to take place. When this general policy issue has been resolved, the Department will be in a position to clarify the adjustments to be made to retired health service staff, including nurses.