I propose to take Questions Nos. 58, 71, 74 and 165 together.
The Labour Court decided to intervene in the nursing dispute due to the grave and extensive implications for our health services and patient safety.
In making its decision the Labour Court acknowledged that "The Public Service employers made clear to the Court that any resolution of the within dispute must take place within the framework of the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA)" and that "the Trade Union has also made clear to the Court its acknowledgement that the resolution to the within dispute must be found within the framework of the PSSA".
As such the Court stressed that in making its recommendation it had only considered possible solutions "in the context of the PSSA".
It is important to note that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions were involved in the negotiations at the Labour Court and supported the Agreement on this basis. Accordingly, I have no plans to engage on public service pay negotiations outside the terms of the current agreement.
Within the framework provided by the PSSA, the Labour Court has made a recommendation and the details of the recommendation will be subject to ballot by INMO members between the 11th and 25th of March. Subject to the outcome to current discussions on contractual matters related to the Labour Court Recommendation, other nursing unions (SIPTU & PNA) have also indicated they will undertake ballots of their members.
The indicative estimates of the net additional costs associated with Labour Court Recommendation LCR 21900 are as follows:
2019: €10m - €15m
2020: €30m - €35m
These estimates include the cost of the potential movement of staff to the new Enhanced Nursing Practice salary scale and other elements of the Recommendation such as the extension of the location/qualification allowance to medical and surgical areas, offset by Agency Savings and the re-configuration of the new entrant deal.
These estimates are necessarily high level and indicative reflecting the fact that further detailed work is currently under way, as provided for under the Labour Court Recommendation, in relation to a new nursing contract and supporting verification mechanisms.
On the 24th September last, agreement was reached with the Public Services Committee of ICTU on measures to address the new entrant pay issue.
In general, the agreement provides for two separate interventions which will take place at point 4 and point 8 of pay scales. The practical effect of this is that for ‘new entrants’ the relevant points on the pay scale will be bypassed thereby reducing the time spent (by bypassing two increment points) on the scale for progression to the maximum point.
The benefits under the measure are effective from 1 March 2019 and are restricted to Parties adhering to the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 excluding nurses, who will benefit from measures that form part of the Labour Court Recommendation.