asked the Minister for Health if he will sanction as a matter of urgency the payment of the 10 per cent increase in pay, plus Sunday and night allowances, for nurses and senior nurses, as recommended by the Labour Court.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nurses Pay Increases.
19.
I have already informed the Local Government Staff Negotiations Board of my acceptance of the Labour Court recommendation which awarded a status increase to the psychiatric nurses.
On 19th October the Local Government Staff Negotiations Board sought my sanction to the Labour Court recommendation regarding weekend allowances and higher night duty allowances for psychiatric nurses. Certain aspects of this recommendation will require clarification and I am in touch with the board in the matter. I shall convey my decision as soon as possible.
Is the Minister in a position to give a definite date? Settlement of this burning question is a matter of great urgency. There was a go-slow and a strike and the strike threat still stands there. Unless the board come to some agreement with these psychiatric nurses we will have a repetition of the tragic situation that existed there. Will the Minister now take steps to have the Labour Court's recommendations implemented immediately and will he put a stop to this dilly-dallying on the part of the CEOs?
We are doing our best to complete our examination of this. The Labour Court findings in regard to two aspects require elucidation. We have asked the management side to raise this matter with the Labour Court in regard to the interpretation of two aspects.
This is a very important matter. Will the Minister see to it that this matter is settled? Has he been saying that the Labour Court did not give sufficient clarification to their findings?
There are certain interpretations that could be put on the findings. We are doing our best to get the matter determined as quickly as possible.
I know the Minister will do his best conscientiously to resolve this problem but the fact is that the position remains in the hands of the CEOs.
The Deputy is making a statement.
Will the Minister now issue a directive that this will be settled by a definite date?
We are trying to get this interpretation from the Labour Court as quickly as possible.
Will the Minister direct the Labour Court——
I cannot direct the Labour Court.