Vol. 563 No. 1
424 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps he is taking to avert the work to rule which public health doctors are embarking upon on 10 March 2003; if his attention has been drawn to the frustration experienced by these doctors in trying to meet with his Department to negotiate in relation to a number of relevant issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7241/03]
A management team, comprising officials from the HSEA, the health agencies, the Department of Finance, and the Department of Health and Children, has met with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) and representatives of the public health doctors in the Labour Relations Commission on a number of occasions in recent months. At a recent such meeting, the work to rule was among the items discussed. The management side requested that the IMO not escalate its work to rule and use the industrial relations facilities which are available, including the Labour Court, in an attempt to resolve these issues.
I would again encourage the Irish Medical Organisation to follow this course of action.
