Vol. 501 No. 2
33 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Finance the guidelines his Department has issued to the Department of Heath and Children to guide the negotiations of the health employer management group with the nursing unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5339/99]
My Department is represented on the management group which has been involved in negotiations with the Nursing Alliance about a number of claims which the unions referred to the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court following publication of the report of the commission on nursing. These claims were considered by the Labour Court at hearings held on 25 October and 3 December 1998. The views of the management group on these claims were outlined in detail in two written submissions to the Labour Court and I can arrange for the Health Service Employers Agency to furnish the Deputy with copies of these submissions if he so wishes.
The Labour Court issued its recommendations on the claims on 9 February 1999. My colleague, Deputy Cowen, Minister for Health and Children issued a statement the following day on behalf of the Government which indicated that the Government was prepared to accept the recommendations, and that the Health Service Employers' Agency had been asked to invite the nursing unions to enter into immediate discussions on the basis recommended by the Labour Court. I understand that both sides met on 16 February and agreed a schedule of meetings for further discussions, beginning today, 25 February 1999.
The issues involved are being dealt with in accordance with the established industrial relations machinery. It is important not to undermine this process and, accordingly, I do not consider it would be appropriate for me to comment on the discussions which are now under way.
