Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 804: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has met with representatives of the nursing unions (details supplied); if she has taken on board the concerns of these unions; and the steps she will take to avert possible industrial action. [1975/07]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 807: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has met with representatives of the nursing unions (details supplied); if she has taken on board the concerns of these unions; her proposals for these unions in relation to the issues they have raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2005/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 857: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position in relation to the review of pay and conditions for nurses in the Irish Nurses Association and the Psychiatric Nurses Association; if her Department has received reports or submissions from these nursing organisations; her plans in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2325/07]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 907: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of negotiations with the Irish Nurses Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses Association in respect of their claim for improvements in their pay and conditions; if she will urge the Health Service Executive to deal urgently with this claim with a view to reaching an agreement that will avoid a disruption to hospital services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2590/07]

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 929: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the steps she is taking to address the grievances of nurses as outlined by the Irish Nurses Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses Association; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2958/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 804, 807, 857, 907 and 929 together.

The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) and the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) are pursuing a number of cost increasing claims in respect of pay and conditions, including a reduction in working hours from 39 to 35 hours per week. The claims were heard by the Labour Court on 20 June 2006 and a recommendation (LCR 18763) issued on 9 November 2006. This Recommendation has been accepted by health service employers.

In its recommendation the Labour Court noted that the social partnership agreements have brought significant benefits to workers, employers and to the economy overall and they provide a fair mechanism within an agreed framework by which workers can obtain improvements in pay and conditions of employment. The Court did not recommend concession of the major cost increasing pay claims. Instead the Court urged the Unions concerned to reconsider their position with regard to Benchmarking so as to have their pay claims examined through that process.

In relation to the claim for a reduction in working hours the Court stated that concession of this claim at this time would have profound consequences for both health care delivery and costs unless effective countervailing measures could be put in place. The Court did recommend that the parties explore the possibility of initiating an appropriate process aimed at achieving a major reorganisation of working arrangements within the health service generally. Such a process would have to involve representatives of a variety of grades and professions across the health service.

As Minister for Health and Children I would like to place on record that I hold the nursing and midwifery professions in high esteem and view the care they provide to patients as a critical component of our health services. I believe that a solution to the current dispute can only be found within the context of the Labour Court Recommendation and the prevailing national agreements. In this regard I arranged for exploratory discussions to be held between all the parties concerned at the offices of the HSE-Employers Agency on 19 January 2006.

While I understand the discussion provided clarity as to the respective positions of the parties the meeting adjourned without agreement on the way forward. However, I remain hopeful that a resolution to this dispute can still be found and I believe it remains open to the INO and PNA to enter the Benchmarking process and have their pay claims processed through this forum. Two other unions, SIPTU and IMPACT, which also represent nurses are currently participating in the Benchmarking process and have made a submission for improvements in pay and conditions on behalf of their members. In addition the INO and PNA could also decide to accept the national agreement, Towards 2016. If they accept this agreement their members would be eligible for pay increases of 10%.

I believe that industrial action by the unions concerned would not be in the interests of patients, staff or employers and I would urge the Unions to give further consideration to the proposals contained in the Labour Court Recommendation.