Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 4

Written Answers. - Nurses' Dispute.

Liam Fitzgerald

Question:

51 Mr. L. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health the dates on which the different offers were made to nurses relating to the recent dispute involving nurses' pay; and where the additional moneys which are required to settle this dispute will be found. [7237/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

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 between 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 PCW, the Government met ICTU and outlined its commitment to achieve the necessary restructuring in a positive and constructive way. The statement issued also outlined the development of a framework aimed at achieving the continuation and successful completion of a number of outstanding discussions.

Following on from 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. 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 1996. A revised set of proposals incorporating these recommendations of the board were balloted on by the nursing unions. SIPTU and the PNA accepted this offer but it was rejected by the INO and IMPACT.

Arising from this impasse. The Deputy will be aware the matter was ultimately referred to a full hearing of the Labour Court. A Labour Court recommendation, LCR15450 issued on 7 February 1997. The findings of the Labour Court were again put to the nursing unions in a revised offer. This offer has been accepted.

The Government statement issued on 9 February 1997 in relation to the nurses' dispute pointed out that no provision has been made in the 1997 Estimates to meet the significant additional costs arising from the Labour Court recommendation.

In that context, my colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Quinn, has indicated that he is reviewing expenditure plans across all Departments with a view to identifying savings to fund the additional expenditure.