Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Jun 2016

Vol. 915 No. 3

Leaders' Questions

Deputy Micheál Martin

I start by condemning the brutal and savage attack at the main international airport in Istanbul which has left 36 people dead and scores more very badly injured. It is the latest in a series of attacks in Turkey and underlines the need for ongoing co-operation between member states of the European Union and their neighbours in dealing with the enormous threat to, and the vulnerability of, citizens as they go about their daily lives because of the actions of ISIS and other terrorist groups.

I am sure the Tánaiste will agree that serious and important issues are emerging in the public sector and the public service which have the potential to sap morale, hamper recruitment efforts and perpetuate inequality in the treatment of public servants in the context of their pay. Friday, 1 July, is fast approaching and the country could be facing some form of industrial action by members of An Garda Síochána because, as gardaí see it, there are still outstanding issues under the Haddington Road agreement. As the Tánaiste knows, the Garda Representative Association, GRA, signed up to the agreement. It was agreed at the time that there would be a review of Garda pay levels and the chairman of the review group, Mr. Ray McGee, formerly of the Workplace Relations Commission, was appointed. As that review was never completed, the GRA is fully convinced that the Haddington Road agreement was not implemented in full for them, as had been agreed, and that, therefore, gardaí should not be facing pay penalties by way of possible increment freezes from 1 July for not voting to accept the subsequent Lansdowne Road agreement. Newly qualified gardaí start on a salary of about €23,000 and it is impossible for them to afford to pay rent or mortgages. There are genuine grievances, but I think there is a mechanism within the industrial relations framework to resolve them. We ask the Tánaiste to confirm that gardaí will not face increment freezes.

In addition, teachers feel exceptionally aggrieved as they have had their qualification allowances cut and there is a very clear illustration of inequality in teachers' pay. Depending on whether one started as a teacher in 2010, 2011 or 2012, the difference over 40 years can be more than €100,000. In particular, removing the qualifications allowance in 2012 had a devastating impact on teachers' pay, with the honorary primary degree allowance of close to €5,000 being taken out in one fell swoop in 2011. There are, therefore, real issues and the INTO, the ASTI and other teacher unions have been bringing them to people's attention. We need to recruit the brightest and the best into the public service. In that regard, inequality is not acceptable. I ask the Tánaiste to confirm when the public service pay commission, as committed to, will be established to create a mechanism and a formula to deal with these vital issues.

The Tánaiste

I first join the Deputy in expressing my sympathy and that of the Government to the people of Turkey after the appalling terrorist attack at the international airport in Istanbul.

It was a vicious and indiscriminate attack which claimed more than 41 lives and left many people seriously injured. I agree with the Deputy that across Europe we need to reinforce our efforts against and combat the heightened threat posed by terrorists. The only way we can do this is by enhancing our collective collaboration and working at European level to take every initiative we can to deal with the terrorist threat. That means ever closer co-operation. As I told the House yesterday, I discussed this issue with the British Minister for Immigration and Security, Mr. James Brockenshire, MP, and we expressed our determination, in the first instance, to continue the very close co-operation between the United Kingdom and Ireland.

On the Deputy's points about public sector pay and the difficulties with a number of groups, including gardaí and teachers, we remain willing and available to engage with the Garda Representative Association, GRA, to find a resolution in the coming days. We want to take every possible initiative to come to an agreement such that people will remain within the Lansdowne Road agreement. Other unions have agreed to stay within it. I ask both organisations to reconsider and continue to engage in discussions in order that whatever obstacles remain to their rejoining the agreement can be dealt with. We remain willing and open to continuing that engagement. There have been good quality discussions with gardaí on a range of the issues that remain on the table. There are solutions, although there are some outstanding issues. We are appointing a new person to lead the discussions on the outstanding Haddington Road agreement issues that were not dealt with previously. We can still engage in discussions on how it can be taken forward to avoid the GRA withdrawing from the Lansdowne Road agreement. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform made it clear again yesterday that the Lansdowne Road agreement was essential and that we needed people to remain within it. Every effort will be made to deal with the current obstacles which the GRA considers are in place.

Deputy Micheál Martin

The Tánaiste did not address the situation of teachers. Will she confirm that gardaí will not be penalised from 1 July until talks take place on the outstanding elements of the Haddington Road agreement and how the agreement was to apply to them? Will she confirm that they will not face punitive measures from 1 July and that there are issues pertaining to the Haddington Road agreement that must be addressed? A person who started teaching in 2011 will earn €100,000 less than someone who started in 2010. A person who started teaching in 2012 will earn €227,000 less than someone who started in 2010. This issue must be addressed and dealt with. It is a growing issue. It is incomprehensible and cannot be allowed to continue. When will the public sector pay commission be established to deal with these anomalies in the pay of teachers and gardaí and the genuine grievances that are emerging, particularly among young gardaí and teachers but also other young people working in the public service?

The Tánaiste

The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton, has invited ASTI to meet him. We want to avoid an increment freeze and every opportunity will be taken to deal with the outstanding issues. On entry levels of pay, very difficult decisions were taken in recent years and many people, including gardaí and teachers, were affected by them, given that they were subject to the same public service pay reductions as all other public servants.

Like other public servants, they have benefitted from some of the restorations introduced by the changes in the FEMPI legislation. The report on the FEMPI legislation will be laid before the House before tomorrow.

We commit to the establishment of a commission for public sector pay to examine pay levels across the public service, and this morning I inquired about its setting up. Officials in the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform are working to establish that commission. The background work is being done and the intention is to move ahead with it as soon as the background work is completed in the coming months.

Deputy Gerry Adams

I join the Tánaiste and the leader of Fianna Fáil in condemning the atrocious bomb attack on Istanbul. I extend solidarity and sympathy to the people of Turkey and to the victims and families of all those killed or injured.

The programme for a partnership Government commits that persons with disabilities should be supported to maximise their potential "by removing barriers which impact on access to services, education, work or healthcare". The comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities was launched on 2 October 2015 and was lauded as a vehicle to deliver equality of opportunity for citizens with disabilities, yet there was no funding ring-fenced for this strategy. Another group, comprising the Department of Social Protection, the National Disability Authority and other Departments, which was set up to examine the benefits and future of disability activation schemes, has met only twice and has yet to announce any plans. I am sure the Tánaiste will agree it is unacceptable. It is particularly unacceptable when one considers 600,000 people in this State live with a disability, more than half of which people are of working age.

In the constituency of Louth there is a unique programme called WALK PEER which enables young people with a disability to plot out their future by accessing opportunities in mainstream education, training and employment within their communities. In total, 119 young people have availed of this programme and have all had a very positive and empowering experience. Forty-nine have progressed to further education and 21 to the workforce. One young woman was recently granted a place at the Drogheda Institute of Further Education. Another young man is being supported in his ambition to become an usher in Leinster House. The scheme has forged vital links between these young citizens and employers, educators and the wider community. Regrettably, it was one of the 14 disability activation schemes jointly funded by the Department of Social Protection and the European Social Fund that had its funding withdrawn last summer. The one in Louth managed to stay open because it got some short-term funding from Ulster Bank. It was hoped that would be a stopgap measure while a comprehensive employment strategy was formulated. It makes no sense that a project like WALK PEER or any disability employment scheme should have to close its door because of the failure of Government to find a small amount of funding. It is only €350,000 that is involved. Given that the interdepartmental working group has still to come forward with a proposition, does the Tánaiste agree that funding should be urgently provided in the meantime to provide vital supports? Given that the Ministers, Deputy Finian McGrath and Deputy Leo Varadkar, are present, perhaps the Tánaiste will agree to this now.

The Tánaiste

The comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities was launched in 2015 and it was the first proper and extensive national strategy. A very important policy agenda for supporting people with disabilities was outlined in it. The Government committed an extra €31 million to disability issues a number of weeks ago. The most up-to-date position on the WALK PEER programme is that the Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, Deputy Finian McGrath, has met the families and individuals. He has discussed the issues with them and is working on a resolution to the issue raised by the Deputy of the ongoing support for the individuals involved in the programme.

I make a more general point, namely, that we have had a number of programmes that were time-limited, and this was one of those programmes that were very important for the individuals who were involved in them. These 14 disability activation projects were meant to finish in April 2015. Private sector funding was found to extend them for another year and that funding has now come to an end. It raises the broader point of the integration of these types of short-term projects into more mainstream funding, and that is precisely what Fergus Finlay's group - he is leading the implementation group for the employment strategy for people with disabilities - is now examining, how mainstream funding can be provided for these types of activation schemes. They will be central to the strategy. As I said with respect to the WALK PEER programme the Deputy raised, the Minister is actively involved in seeking a resolution and finding a way of ensuring the people involved can continue.

Deputy Gerry Adams

I am disappointed with the Tánaiste's answer. When I raised this question directly with the Taoiseach recently, he told me that the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, would meet representatives from WALK PEER. I knew that. The Tánaiste has now told me that he has met them. I knew that also. I spoke directly to the Minister of State, Deputy McGrath, on this issue. I also sent my question in writing to the Tánaiste's office in order that she would not be caught on the hop on this issue. I phoned the Minister of State, Deputy McGrath, this morning to give him notice that I was raising this issue. WALK PEER is going to close its doors in the next very short period.

While the interdepartmental group brings forward its proposition, can some short-term gap-filling be done? The whole project involves €350,000. The three Ministers involved are present in the Chamber. The three of them could take that decision. This matter is being batted back and forth between me and others, including Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, who also raised this issue directly. Why should these young people who have benefited so much from this effort to liberate them and bring them into the workforce and into further education, which is a great sense of pride and relief for their parents, be set to one side? Why not take a decision and allow this to progress?

The Tánaiste

This is not being batted back and forth. There are proposals under active consideration, as I said to the Deputy, to resolve the situation. The Minister is meeting the families to resolve the issue and come up with a solution. I am not putting it on the floor of the House this morning but the intention is to get a solution and to find a resolution to the matter. The Minister is actively considering that in order that people will not be left without this project or deprived of participation in it. The Minister is actively working on ensuring there is a resolution. As I said, there is longer-term work to be done about developing more mainstream projects because we have had many projects in this country, not only in the area of disability. We have also had, for example, Atlantic Philanthropies which funded many different projects throughout the country. How we transfer those into mainstream funding is an issue that is under active consideration not only in the disability area but also with respect to projects around early childhood intervention. There is active work going on and a resolution is being sought.

Deputy Thomas Pringle

On behalf of the Independents 4 Change group, I express our sympathies to the people of Turkey after the horrific terrorist attack at Istanbul airport last night.

This week's European Council summit has been dominated by the fallout from the Brexit vote, but very important issues were also being discussed, which I believe also contributed to the vote result in the UK for many people, and that is the ongoing militarisation of the European Union, something it seems the Government is happy to participate in despite that the majority of Irish people, when asked, support the protection of our neutrality in our Constitution, but then the Government would not dare ask them officially because it would not get the answer it would like.

The Council has not only been attended by the Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, but the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, to receive the European global strategy on foreign and security policy from the High Representative, Federica Mogherini. The strategy states that Europeans must be better equipped, trained and organised to act autonomously if and when necessary.

It goes on to say that we must develop the capacity for a rapid response including by tackling the procedural, financial and political obstacles which prevent the deployment of the battle groups, hamper fourth generation and reduce the effectiveness of military operations. According to Ms Mogherini, defence co-operation must become the norm within Europe. The document stops short of the creation of a European army, but says the EU should systematically encourage defence co-operation and strive to create a solid European defence industry.

This document comes very quickly after NATO played war games in Poland, modelling an attack on Russia which even included potential nuclear strikes according to some reports. It is intended that in the coming days the President of the European Council and NATO will sign a pact in Warsaw at the weekend. That is a pact he will be signing on our behalf. How will the Government protect our neutrality as the majority of the Irish people want? Did the Taoiseach remain at the European Council meeting while it met with the Secretary General of NATO and, if so, why?

The Tánaiste

The first thing to say on the broader issue of Brexit is that the discussions in Brussels are ongoing and the European Council is the appropriate place to deal with all of the issues which are arising for the whole of Europe and which have particular relevance for Ireland given our very close relationship with the UK. There will be statements in the House next week on the outcome of the European Council. There is a long way to go and many issues are on the table. Clearly, the position of the Government has been to say the United Kingdom needs space before it can be expected to formally begin the process.

As far as our approach to neutrality is concerned, there has been no change in the view of the Government. We remain committed to the triple lock process on any engagement of our Defence Forces. That remains absolutely in place. We have already made clear our commitment as a Government to the Partnership for Peace and engagement around that. Our armed forces have a very proud tradition of engaging in peacekeeping internationally and we intend to continue that. Our troops are currently in a number of countries where they continue that tradition. The intention is to continue to do that and to continue to uphold that tradition in this country. That is the approach of the Government and nothing has changed. Brexit does not change that as far as the Government is concerned. We remain committed to the situation as I have outlined it as far as neutrality is concerned.

Deputy Thomas Pringle

Unfortunately, the Tánaiste did not address the question in regard to whether the Taoiseach participated in the European Council in the presence of the Secretary General of NATO. That is key for a so-called neutral country. The Tánaiste reiterated the Government's response that the triple lock mechanism governs our participation in any military exercise. The previous Government watered down the triple lock through the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006 to the extent that a senior diplomatic official has been quoted as saying that at this stage all that is needed for Ireland to enter into a war is a benediction from the UN . That is the strength the triple lock system has at this stage. As far as I am aware, the invasion of Afghanistan did not have a UN mandate. It was mandated by the UN Security Council, which is dominated by the Americans, the French and the British. It was not sanctioned by the total body of the UN itself. The question, which the Tánaiste might answer with one word, is whether the Taoiseach participated in the European Council with the Secretary General of NATO or if he removed himself for that part of the discussion.

The Tánaiste

Regardless of who attended or did not attend a particular meeting, the situation is as I have outlined it to the Deputy. Clearly, Government, Dáil and UN resolution approval are required before we can be involved in any particular initiative. That remains the case. It has not changed. The legislation to which the Deputy referred did not change it. The triple lock remains in place and we continue to participate primarily in Partnership for Peace and the peacekeeping efforts being made internationally. Our Defence Forces will continue to be engaged in peacekeeping based on the precedents for every engagement we have had to date and where the triple lock has been the basis for our approach.

It continues to characterise it irrespective of who attends what meetings. That is the clear position of the Irish Government on neutrality. I do not have the details of who attended at that but the key issue at stake here is the approach of the Government to neutrality, and that has not changed.

An Ceann Comhairle

On behalf of the Rural Technical Group, I call Deputy Harty.

Deputy Michael Harty

On behalf of our group, I express our horror at another terrorist attack on defenceless people, this time in Turkey.

Will the Tánaiste address the status of the negotiations between the Department of Health and the IMO on developing a new GP contract that will allow for the development of a new GP-led primary care model to drive change in our health service? The present contract is 44 years old, outdated and increasingly unworkable. It was introduced to replace the dispensary system, which itself was 100 years old. Thus, the basic contractual structures of Irish general practice have changed only once in the past 160 years, which seems difficult to believe. The present contract was introduced in 1972 to provide acute care for the most vulnerable patients who had medical card entitlements. We have moved a long way in those 44 years and modern general practice has developed beyond the confines of the contract, yet it remains constrained by it.

The future of modern general practice should include providing and leading the management of chronic and acute illnesses. As our population ages, people's complex care increases due to their development of multiple degenerative diseases and cancers. The burden of care for these chronic diseases will be best and most cost-effectively provided in GP-led primary care rather than in the more expensive hospital setting.

The present contract requires GPs to provide 24/7, 365-day services. Most contract holders are working in excess of 60 hours per week. GP workload is increasing due to our ageing population and the eventual extension of free GP care to cover the entire population. Waiting lists to see GPs are developing for the first time, as general practice capacity is being overwhelmed by the increased workload. A new contract is required to expand that capacity and allow general practice to cope with the increased workload of delivering chronic disease management and free GP care to all children. Indeed, it is open to question whether giving free care to healthy children rather than patients with established chronic illnesses is the best way to spend scare resources.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Hear, hear.

Deputy Michael Harty

If we have a GP service that is constrained by an outdated contract and unable to deliver chronic care in the community, our hospital system will be further overwhelmed. We will face the prospect of rising trolley counts, increased accident and emergency unit overcrowding and increased hospital waiting lists.

Will the Tánaiste assure the House that negotiations are being pursed as a matter of urgency and indicate a target date for their completion? It is imperative that, as a first step in planning our health care reform, the Government develop and build a modern, GP-led primary care service that is underpinned by a new GP contract.

The Tánaiste

I thank Deputy Harty. I certainly agree with the last statement that he made, namely, that we need a new GP contract and the service to be underpinned properly by that. Under the framework agreement that was entered into between the HSE, the Department of Health and the IMO in June 2014, a process was agreed under which the parties could negotiate on all publicly funded health sector contracts, including general practice and General Medical Services, GMS. In this context, the parties have committed to negotiations on a new GP contract to replace existing arrangements. These talks have commenced. The Deputy will be aware that the Minister for Health has met the representative bodies. He has had very good individual meetings with both of them, but I agree as well with what the Deputy said, namely, that we need to plan ahead, given the ageing population that we have. People are living longer and their needs will be greater and more diverse. We also have the highest birth rate in Europe. Huge pressures are building up on GP services.

We have increased the health budget in recent weeks. We have made very clear in this partnership Government our commitment to primary care. There is a clear consensus that is the best approach for patients. We need to look at how to advance that. We have the all-party health committee and we have the agreement in respect of rural practices that was reached last year.

I am informed by the Minister for Health that he intends to consult and engage further with the stakeholders in primary care in the autumn, hopefully in September. This engagement will include GPs, dentists, pharmacists and others to consider how best to ensure joined-up thinking, greater integration and the world-class integrated primary care service that we absolutely need around the country.

Deputy Harty said that during the negotiations on the programme for Government, we agreed on building GP capacity to respond to patient needs, for example, by providing access to X-rays, ultrasound and other investigations and through the expansion of chronic disease management in general practice. We have made progress but it will require additional GPs. Recruiting GPs remains a challenge for the health service. We will need to identify the clear pathways for patients from GP care to hospital care, etc.

There will be further discussions from September onwards. The Minister is hopeful in this regard, and we have made progress. We have 90 primary care centres across the State, with 47 having been delivered in the past five years despite the economic circumstances. Another 80 will be built by 2021. We have delivered free GP care to children under six. However, we want to see progress being made on the GP contract.

Deputy Michael Harty

I would like the Government to address a number of issues concerning the contract. There are four main issues resulting in considerable pressure in general practice. One is the application of the FEMPI legislation. It was applied to general practice in a very disproportionate manner. Some 40% of the support structures to finance general practice were removed under FEMPI, which was unfair. This has had a devastating effect on general practice.

The second aspect is that the contract needs to be flexible. A one-size-fits-all contract will not help general practice. We need flexible contracts, part-time contracts and, perhaps, salaried GPs.

Third, there is a manpower crisis in general practice. Some 20% of GPs are over the age of 60 and will retire soon. Our new graduates are not coming into general practice because of the unattractive nature of the contract. Established GPs are leaving the country to move to more attractive areas.

Finally, our out-of-hours services are struggling to cope with the lack of indigenous GPs and locum GPs to man them.

The Tánaiste

On the Deputy's point on the recruitment of GPs, it is not just a national issue but also an international one, as he will be well aware. Every effort is being made regarding this. A higher number of training places has been agreed in recent times.

With regard to the FEMPI legislation, it is the Government’s intention to unwind as much of that in as timely a way as possible. That brings itself to bear on GPs in addition to others working in the public sector. Clearly, the Summer Economic Statement outlined a very strong economic position that I hope will continue to put the Government in a position to improve conditions. Central to that is a positive outcome to the GP contract negotiations. I hope they go well. Everybody is committed to ensuring we will have the new GP contract. As the Deputy stated, it is out of date and we need to conclude a new one.

An Ceann Comhairle

That concludes Leaders' Questions. In light of the points raised by Members, I invite everyone to stand in his or her place for just one minute as a mark of respect to those who have lost their lives in Turkey.

Deputy Brendan Howlin

Those of us who were not in the House would like to be associated with those points.

Members rose.