Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 24 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 6

Written Answers. - Hospital Doctors.

Liz McManus

Ceist:

88 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the interim settlement in the industrial dispute involving junior hospital doctors; and the plans there are for further talks to resolve remaining outstanding issues. [14488/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Representatives of health service management and the Irish Medical Organisation representing NCHDs met under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission on 14 and 15 May. Following lengthy discussions, officials of the commission put a series of interim proposals to both sides in an effort to avert the industrial action threatened for Wednesday 17 May. The commission's proposals were accepted by both sides.

The interim settlement included all hours worked on-site in excess of 39 hours per week to be paid at the rate of time plus a quarter; all hours worked on-site in excess of 54 hours per week to be paid at the rate of time plus a half;pro-rata improvement in Sunday on-site rate; the function of rostering doctors to become a responsibility of hospital management. To this end a senior manager will be appointed in each health agency to facilitate and monitor this process; the parties to agree on measures to limit the hours worked by NCHDs by making maximum use of available manpower resources; the parties to work towards the elimination of long periods of continuous duty; and discussions on the precise mechanism to give effect to those provisions and on the remaining agenda to be held under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission and to be completed by Friday 16 June 2000.

I record my appreciation of the effort put into this interim settlement by all parties which avoided disruption to hospital patients and their relatives. In particular, I thank the officials of the Labour Relations Commission who facilitated the agreement. I hope that with their continued help and assistance a comprehensive agreement can be reached between the parties on all remaining issues.