Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Ceist:20 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will report on the contacts, if any, he has had with ICTU in relation to the nurses' strike. [21268/99]
Written Answers. - Industrial Relations.
Following my meeting with the nursing alliance on 18 October, discussions took place between the parties to the pay agreement under Partnership 2000 – namely, ICTU, IBEC and officials from the Departments of the Taoiseach and Finance. This resulted in the request to Mr. Kevin Duffy, deputy chairperson of the Labour Court, to facilitate talks on ways of addressing the issues within the framework of Partnership 2000. This culminated in the set of recommendations produced by the Labour Court on 27 October.
I pay tribute to Mr. Finbarr Flood, chairperson of the Labour Court and Mr. Kevin Duffy, deputy chairperson, for their contributions to the resolution of this dispute.
Obviously, the Government attached the highest priority throughout to a speedy resolution of the dispute and, within that context, the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance and I remained in ongoing close contact with all sides, including ICTU – principally through senior officials from our respective Departments. The Government holds the view that the recommendations of the Labour Court address the key concerns and priorities as expressed by the nursing profession itself and that they fall within the framework of social partnership.