I am aware from media reports of concerns expressed by the Irish Nurses Organisation following publication of the report of the commission on public service pensions on 31 January 2001. The INO has not requested a meeting with me on this matter, nor I understand has my colleague the Minister for Finance been asked for a meeting.
The position is that the Government intends to make formal decisions on the Commission's recommendations following detailed consideration of the report. The Programme for Prosperity and Fairness provides that a working group of the public service unions, relevant Departments and other appropriate bodies is to be established following Government consideration of the report of the commission to advise on the implementation of the relevant Government decisions with a view to introducing, as quickly as possible, any proposed changes in public service pension arrangements, including those for low paid workers. The Government will move to establish that working group when it has made its decisions on the commission's recommendations.
The INO press statement of 1 February 2001 makes no reference to a possible re-opening of the nurses' dispute. Instead, the INO states that it is awaiting a date from the Equality Authority for a hearing on a claim, submitted under the Anti Discrimination (Pay) Act, 1974, and the Employment Equality Act, 1974. It is clear from the statement that this is the context within which it intends to "pursue equality for all nurses in respect of pension entitlements".
