Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If the Taoiseach respects the workers, as he says he does, he and the Government need to send a signal because the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which represents the Government, has proved to be the major stumbling block. It confirmed that the moneys owed to the workers would be considered for payment in 2021. It seems that conditionality is being applied to any referral to the Labour Court, in other words, the Department wishes to pre-empt the outcome of the Labour Court before it even hears the case. That is not acceptable and the ongoing issues within the health service need hands-on attention from the Government. While it is grand for the Minister for Health to intervene in a whole range of areas, from Botox to whatever else, he is nowhere to be seen on the tough and hard issues.

The workers feel as though they are being dismissed by the Government and do not matter to it. As a result, the matter has dragged on since 2015, as Government commitments to them have not been honoured. The case should be heard by the Labour Court without conditions, which may provide an opportunity for chaos on Thursday to be prevented in order that patient care will not be undermined and elective admissions to hospitals will not be cancelled.

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