Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of the strike taking place today by the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association, MLSA. It is their second week of industrial action. These workers are essential to the health service. Unfortunately, last week, as a result of just one day of strike action, 14,000 outpatient appointments were cancelled. Now these workers have had to embark on a second week of industrial action.

To be frank, I am at a complete loss as to how the Government has let this situation arise. The Minister of State knows full well that this dispute goes back 20 years. The HSE concedes that the dispute is just and that the expert report of 2001 made it clear there should be pay parity for these workers. There is a 20% drop-off rate in this area and 20% of positions for these specialist essential workers are unfilled. They cannot fill the vacancies.

A ballot for strike action was carried out last November, with 98% support. It is unbelievable that, knowing all of this, nothing worthwhile has been done by the Government. Instead of dealing with this dispute and the real issues involved, that is, justice for pay, career progression and the worrying shortfall in these expert workers because so many of them are leaving the industry or simply will not join it, the Government has done nothing. The Minister for Health has seen this coming down the tracks for months and instead of doing something about it, we are now into a second week of industrial disputes, with a further three days next week pending.

I have met these workers and their representatives and it is very clear that they did not want to go on strike. They made that absolutely clear to me. This is the last thing they wanted to do. They spent two and a half years in fruitless negotiations with this Government. Unfortunately, it is characteristic of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments that they do not understand industrial relations. How can it make sense to allow this dispute to continue, rather than resolve it? Terry Casey, the general secretary of the MLSA said, "Since last week’s action neither the HSE nor the Department of Health have come to us with a meaningful proposal, or invitation to talks, that could address the issues involved".That is an absolutely shocking statement. The Minister of State can see the chaos that has ensued. I had a number of calls this morning from people in Limerick asking me why their outpatient appointments have been cancelled. Let me be clear: they are not criticising the workers on strike - the outpatients get it. They are criticising the Government for allowing this to happen, for not dealing with the issues, for not listening to the workers and for not having the conversation that, clearly, still has not happened between the Department of Health and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I want to be very clear about where the blockage is. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is blocking moves to ensure pay parity for these workers. It is very clear that these disputes will cost us, through the HSE, an absolute fortune. It makes no financial sense and, in terms of justice for the workers, it makes no sense either. The Government has been derelict in its duty - those are the only words I can use - in allowing this dispute to drag on for more than 20 years. The workers have been waiting for pay parity and nothing has happened for them. There have been two and a half years of completely fruitless talks. The Minister of State has an opportunity to say something meaningful in his response. If he does that, the dispute could be called off tomorrow and we could get the workers back to work, which is where they want to be.

My colleagues were at the picket line in Limerick this morning and they spoke at first hand to the workers there. They are exasperated with the Government for not listening and not responding. The Minister of State has an opportunity now to please say something worthwhile and give us a clear indication that meaningful talks that will lead to a resolution of the dispute are available and should happen straight away.