Séamus Hughes
Question:51 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Health the steps, if any, he is taking to prevent industrial action being taken by speech and language therapists in respect of their pay claim. [10850/97]
Written Answers. - Paramedics Dispute.
Donal Moynihan
Question:57 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the status of occupational therapy pay negotiations under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work. [10391/97]
Micheál Martin
Question:58 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Health the current position in relation to the status of occupational therapists' pay negotiations under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work; if he will respond positively to pay claims from community occupational therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10392/97]
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:81 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the current position in relation to the issues being raised by the occupational therapists, physiotherapists, environmental health officers and speech therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10641/97]
Limerick East): I wish to take Questions Nos. 51, 57, 58 and 81 together.
Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and environmental health officers, similar to all other paramedical professions, have benefited in full from all standard and special pay awards under the various national pay programmes over the last number of years. The relative position of these professions, in terms of remuneration, has been maintained with those of their colleagues in other paramedical disciplines.
IMPACT, on behalf of these professions, has been pursuing a pay claim under clause 2 (iii) — Annex 1 of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work. These negotiations are complex and are being handled by the Health Service Employers' Agency.
A conciliation hearing at the Labour Relations Commission on Thursday, 17 April 1997 was not successful and IMPACT opted to commence strike action among several of the paramedical professions — including physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists — with effect from Monday, 21 April 1997.
In these circumstances, I am sure the Deputy will appreciate it would be inappropriate for me to make any further comment at present other than to say every effort is being made to resolve this dispute and contacts are being maintained between the parties involved.