Liam Twomey
Question:75 Dr. Twomey asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason on-call theatre nurses are paid a substantially lower rate of pay when they are on-call compared to their colleagues in Waterford Regional Hospital. [6702/03]
Written Answers - Hospital Staffing.
The issue raised by the Deputy has been the subject of industrial action including a work-to-rule nationally and, latterly, withdrawal of labour in theatres at selected hospitals.
The matter has been the subject of discussions at the Labour Relations Commission, most recently on 25 February last. Following that conciliation conference, the commission issued proposals, agreed by the parties, which would have the effect of bringing the national theatre on-call rates into line with those prevailing at Waterford Regional Hospital.
Industrial action has been suspended, pending the outcome of a ballot by the nursing unions involved.