Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 92 together.

I thank Deputy Kenny for raising the issue. Like the Deputy, I respect and acknowledge the huge work the medical scientists have done and continue to do. Following the strike action on 18 May and 24 May, health management and the MLSA attended an exploratory engagement at the Labour Court on 25 May for the court to establish whether or how it might assist the parties in finding a resolution to the matters in dispute. Following engagement at the Labour Court, the parties agreed to reconvene at the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, for a final engagement process. This process took place over a three-week period. Parties agreed that any outstanding issues which could not be resolved through the WRC process would be referred to the Labour Court for a final recommendation. During these talks an agreement was reached on a process to assess a claim it has had for 20 years. They have been looking for a resolution to this for 20 years.

As the Deputy will appreciate, because this is an ongoing industrial relations process, it would be inappropriate to discuss the funding of any outcomes that are yet to be determined. It is positive that the MLSA agreed to lift its strike action and that parties reached agreement on a process to assess the claim. I acknowledge the recruitment challenges in relation to medical scientists. The HSE aims to recruit 160 new medical scientist roles in 2022 and in each subsequent year. We are investing in and expanding this really important professional group. A recruitment campaign is planned along with other initiatives to address the various challenges that have been raised.

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