Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 May 1997

Vol. 478 No. 6

Written Answers. - Paramedics Dispute.

Mary Wallace

Question:

59 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health the steps, if any, his Department has taken to protect children at risk in County Meath during the current strike of health care professionals, particularly children awaiting foster placement, children at risk and those requiring protection of the court, whose cases have not yet been brought to court or whose cases are due to be heard, but cannot proceed without the evidence being presented by a health care worker currently on strike; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11732/97]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Mr. Currie)

I understand that each of the eight health boards has arrangements in place to deal with urgent child care issues which arise and the union in dispute is co-operating in this regard.

In some court cases, health boards have subpoenaed striking health care workers to give evidence but this has not occurred in the North-Eastern Health Board.