John Browne
Question:53 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the agreement he has reached with nurses in relation to pay; and whether any further improvements in this agreement are planned. [20453/96]
Written Answers. - Nurses Pay.
Limerick East): An initial offer in relation to the settlement of the claim for nurses under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work was agreed with the nursing unions, INO, SIPTU, IMPACT and the PNA on 23 March 1996 in discussions with health service management. Following these discussions the proposals were put to a ballot of the membership and subsequently rejected.
Arising from the failure of this group, and a number of others in the Public Service, to reach agreement on restructuring under clause 2 (iii) (a) of the Public Service Agreement on Pay, incorporated in the Programme for Competitiveness and Work, the Government met ICTU and outlined its commitment to achieve the necessary restructuring in a positive and constructive way. The statement they issued also outlined the development of a framework aimed at achieving the continuation and successful completion of a number of outstanding sets of discussions.
Following this statement a further series of discussions took place with the nursing unions. As provided for within the framework, the parties agreed to refer the outstanding issues to adjudication. Both sides entered this adjudication process on the understanding that it represented the final stage of processing of the nurses' claim. Submissions were made to the adjudication board on 22 July 1996. The finding of the adjudication board was issued to management and unions on Monday 23 September 1995.
A revised set of proposals incorporating these recommendations of the board are currently being balloted on by the nursing unions. The unions have recommended the revised proposals for positive consideration by their members and I hope that this new package will meet with the approval of nurses throughout the country.