Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 17 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 3

Written Answers. - Environmental Health Officers Dispute.

Mary O'Rourke

Question:

72 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he has received complaints from hotels, guest-houses, country houses and youth hostels regarding their inability to register with Bord Fáilte due to the ongoing dispute by environmental health officers; if so, the number of such complaints in each category; and the length of time this dispute has been ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18992/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): I have received a number of representations in relation to this issue, as set out in the following table:

Category	Number of Representations
Hostels	1
Hotels	4
Restaurants	3
Guest-houses	1

In addition, I have also received a small number of general representations on the issue together with ongoing telephone inquiries.

As I recently explained to the House, IMPACT on behalf of environmental health officers, withdrew from negotiations which were being pursued under clause 2 (iii) — annex 1 of theProgramme 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 on 25 June 1996 between management and union, under the auspices of the local government staff negotiations board. On Wednesday, 26 June 1996, I personally met with IMPACT and a delegation of environmental health officers to explore whether the provisions of the joint Government/ICTU statement of 15 May 1996 could usefully be applied to resolving the current impasse in the negotiations.

On 5 July 1996, with the assistance of a facilitator from the Labour Relations Commission, an informal meeting took place between management and the union. This meeting was of considerable assistance to both sides and as a result negotiations are continuing.

In view of the complexity of these negotiations it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this point, other than to say that I am confident of a mutually satisfactory resolution to this issue in the near future.