It is with deep concern that I raise on the Adjournment the threatened all-out strike of SIPTU members in the Clare health services arising from the suspension of three receptionists who were assigned to duties in Ennis General Hospital following the closure of Our Lady's psychiatric hospital, Ennis.
The dispute stems from the fact that the three receptionists who were transferred within the psychiatric service to Ennis General Hospital were unhappy with their working conditions. The staff were employed as Grade III clerical workers. The health board stated that the receptionists were assigned to a centralised reception area of Ennis General Hospital with the full agreement of their union and as was the case with every other worker transferred from Our Lady's hospital, they received €3,500 in compensation. The dispute commenced at that point.
Since 28 May last, the three receptionists have been off duty without pay and while efforts were made by both sides to settle the ongoing dispute, there have been no face to face meetings. Yesterday afternoon, the Mid-Western Health Board confirmed that the Grade III clerical workers at the centre of the long running dispute in Clare mental health services have been suspended without pay.
This is a serious situation that has now arisen as SIPTU has now called for an all-out strike in the Clare health services arising from the suspension. This could have immediate consequences for all the health services within the county. The dispute will have to be settled one way or another and every attempt will have to be made to find a formula whereby these receptionists can return to work.
Does the Minister of State realise the extent of the disruption that will ensue if an all-out strike takes place? Services at Ennis General Hospital will be affected, and I am aware the Minister of State has a strong connection to County Clare and that he will do everything possible to ensure that the €13 million to €15 million extension and improvement works to be carried out at Ennis General Hospital will not be affected by the cutbacks in the Estimates. As the Minister of State is aware, County Clare has a population of over 100,000. The project is at design stage and I hope the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy Martin, will make every effort to ensure that planning permission for the work is proceeded with in 2003.
Other services that will be affected will be acute and long stay psychiatric services, services for the elderly, who are very vulnerable, and the ambulance service.
Is the Minister aware that consolidation talks chaired by the industrial relations officer of the Labour Court took place last Thursday and that following these talks, the matter was referred to the Labour Court for a full hearing? Is he aware also that with the Labour Court proceedings pending, the chief executive officer of the Mid-Western Health Board took the unilateral action of suspending the clerical officers involved without pay? I regret that and I call on the Minister for Health and Children to intervene at this stage and, if necessary, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment should use her powers under the industrial relations Act to intervene. I tried to raise the matter this morning on the Order of Business under Standing Order 31 but unfortunately the Ceann Comhairle ruled it out of order.
As a public representative for County Clare, I hope that face to face talks can now take place between the union and the health board. If I can facilitate the process in any way I would be delighted to do so because we do not want disruption of the health services in the winter period. Our services are basic enough without that happening. I ask the Minister of State to see what he can do to settle this serious dispute.
