Máire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I again raise the issue of the ongoing industrial dispute between the Psychiatric Nurses Association of Ireland, PNAI, and the HSE. The dispute has now entered its second phase, which commenced this morning. The HSE needs to commit to resolving this dispute urgently before patient care is impacted upon. Phase 2 commenced this morning throughout hospitals. Essentially, nurses will not be performing what they consider non-nursing duties. I spoke to a representative of the PNAI this morning who acknowledged that good progress is being made on 15 out of the 16 issues to which the dispute relates and that the subgroup is currently meeting to tease out the most difficult ones.

Phase 3, which is scheduled to commence next week, will involve an overtime ban. We all know overtime is keeping our hospitals ticking over. Psychiatric services in particular cannot function without the use of overtime. Therefore, should the dispute enter phase 3, patient care and treatment will be severely impacted upon.

The PNAI and I call on the HSE and the Department to restore good faith and meet its demands to resolve this dispute in the interests of patients and their families. I also call on the Minister for Health to provide an update on where his Department and the HSE stand.