Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the Minister, Deputy Harris's reply, but it is totally disingenuous. It does not reflect how grossly unfair the situation is to the Irish Wheelchair Association, Rehab, Enable Ireland and the other bodies.

I note that the IWA has entered a dispute resolution process with the HSE. The SIPTU trade union has rightly referred the matter to the Workplace Relations Commission. I understand that the chief executive of the IWA, Ms Rosemary Keogh, had her first meeting with the HSE today following a letter she sent to them on 4 May. That letter indicated that as per clause 33 of the service arrangement 2015-2018, the IWA was beginning the dispute resolution process.

The IWA is a member of the Not-for-Profit Association, NFPA, which has been attempting to find a resolution to this problem since last September. On 29 March, representatives of the NFPA met with representatives of the HSE, including Mr. Pat Healy, Mr. Cathal Morgan and Ms Marion Meaney.

Clearly, over many years the HSE did instruct section 39 organisations to come in line with HSE pay scales.

They did that, as per instruction. During the crash, the Irish Wheelchair Association and other bodies were told to make the FEMPI reductions, which they did. Now the staff of section 39 organisations have been excluded, most unfairly, from the Haddington Road and Landsdowne Road national pay agreements. The SIPTU trade union has rightly sought the restoration of pay scales for these staff and to have the matter referred to the Workplace Relations Commission.

The Minister of State mentioned a three-year service agreement which the Irish Wheelchair Association has not felt able to sign. It feels that way because it simply does not have the funding, as it has to meet the additional salary costs. Approximately €5 million per annum over the duration of this service level agreement would settle and resolve this situation for the hard-working and valiant staff of the Irish Wheelchair Association, the Rehab Group and Enable Ireland. It is a small sum of money. The Minister should resolve this as soon as possible.

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