Emer Higgins
Question:43. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the status of negotiations between Fórsa and the HSE over industrial action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49011/23]
View answerThursday, 9 November 2023
Questions (43)
Written answers
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of all Management and Administration staff across the health service.
As the Deputy is aware, on 13 October 2023, the HSE CEO announced a recruitment pause on all Grades that have grown beyond their recruitment targets for 2023.
The recruitment pause includes:
• Management and Administration posts
• Patient and client care (attendants/healthcare assistants/home help)
• Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors
• General Support
The recruitment pause is part of a suite of control measures, including an instruction to reduce expenditure on agency staff and management consultants across the HSE and Section 38 organisations.
A number of engagements have taken place between health management and Fórsa at the Workplace Relations Commission over the past number of months in relation to this recruitment pause and its impact on Management/Admin staff. As the Deputy is aware, Fórsa's Management/Admin staff have been involved in a work-to-rule over this matter since 6 October. As this is an industrial relations matter, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time.