Michael Ring
Ceist:73 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Finance the progress, if any, made in settling the nurses' pay claim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10033/99]
Written Answers. - Nurses' Pay Claim.
Following publication of the Report of the Commission on Nursing on 16 September 1998, the nursing unions referred a number of claims to the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court. These claims were considered by the Labour Court at hearings held on 25 October and 3 December 1998 and the court issued its recommendations on 9 February 1999.
The court recommended significant improvements in existing allowances for nurses who work in specialised areas and hold special qualifications. It pointed out that the pay of staff nurses was addressed in the February 1997 settlement but accepted that there were grounds for improvements in the pay of ward sisters and higher grades to reflect the new roles proposed for those grades in the Report of the Commission on Nursing. It recommended that the parties enter into discussions immediately on implementation of that report, with those discussions to be completed by 1 May 1999, at which stage the parties were to report back to the court.
My colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Cowen, issued a statement the following day on behalf of the Government which indicated that the Government was prepared to accept the Labour Court 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 court.
Difficulties arose when the direct discussions got under way on 25 February 1999 and the Labour Court decided to appoint a chairman to preside over the negotiations.
Intensive discussions between the parties have since taken place. Although a certain amount of progress was made in the discussions, agreement was not reached on the pay issues. The chairman of the talks has now reported back to the Labour Court and I understand that the court has arranged to meet the parties again on 29 April 1999.