Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle's Office for selecting my Adjournment matter for discussion. I have tabled this matter today as we have received notice through the media of substantial industrial action commencing on Monday next, 1 March. I am seeking an assurance from the Minister of State that the Government has a plan of action to protect patients in the health services in the context of the proposed action. I also seek clarity from the Minister of State in regard to exactly what will happen; what discussions have been held between Government and representatives of the workers concerned and what information in this regard is available to the Government.

Clearly, the people most affected by this strike action will be patients and their families. It is stated in today's newspapers that a letter from IMPACT states the actions will include, refusal to take on work associated with all vacant posts; refusal to participant in work associated with the HSE's reconfiguration of services; a third proposed action in respect of political representations and refusal to answer telephones, including mobile phones for specific periods on a rotating basis. I would like clarification from the Minister of State in regard to exactly what this means. There are currently many vacant posts in the health services owing to the moratorium and as such the action in this regard could affect a wide range of services. Also, the reconfiguration is fairly embedded, in particular in my own region in the mid-west and in other parts of the country. It is important we know exactly of what the Government is aware in terms of what will happen and that there is absolute protection for patients to ensure this does not affect them and that they receive the services they need be they availing of hospital or any other services under the HSE. I would like the Minister of State to inform the House of the Government's plan of action to ensure the system works appropriately and that patients are protected.

I want to put on record that an opportunity existed to get an agreed programme of action in terms of reform of the system and of achieving substantial savings within the health services. Unfortunately, this opportunity was not taken up as the Government pulled out of talks in advance of the budget and decided on straightforward pay cuts rather than a negotiated agreement. I know from speaking with some of the representatives who were at the table that night that there was substantial agreement between the representatives of the health service workers and representatives of Government which would have achieved the fiscal savings required and would also have achieved a substantial plan of reform of the health services, which we all know is absolutely necessary. However, the opportunity to do so was missed. Now, rather than being well under way in terms of reforms, we are facing industrial action, which I understand will be escalated.

It is accepted reform will not happen in the immediate future and there is a danger that patients will be affected by industrial action. It is hoped that the Minister of State can inform the House of what will happen next Monday and what plans and procedures the Government has in place in this regard. In the longer term, we need to re-engage with workers. There are, however, certain conditions that will have to be met for that to happen. We need to return to the process of reform of the health services. I believe we could have a much more efficient and effective system if there was co-operation all round. It is my firm belief that such co-operation was available prior to the budget announced before Christmas. Unfortunately, that co-operation is not on the table now.

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