James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge and pay tribute to the dedication, professionalism, and commitment of all medical scientists throughout the country. Medical scientists perform a valued and vital role within our health service. Their drive and determination have been key components in our management of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, they were at the front line of the response providing a crucial role in testing. This role has not gone unnoticed.

The Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, is acutely aware of the ongoing and long-standing claim for pay parity between medical scientists and clinical biochemists. Health management has been engaging with the Medical Laboratory Scientist Association, MLSA, on these issues at the Workplace Relations Commission, under the terms of the current public service agreement, Building Momentum. As the MLSA is part of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, it is bound by the terms of the agreement for the remainder of its lifetime. Building Momentum includes the process of sectoral bargaining to deal with all outstanding claims across the public sector. The bargaining fund equates to 1% of basic pensionable pay for each bargaining unit set up under the agreement. Under Building Momentum, sectoral bargaining is the sole mechanism through which the MLSA can advance its claim. The MLSA requested and was facilitated with its own bargaining unit in the sectoral bargaining process in order to progress its claim for pay parity. As such, the MLSA has at its disposal a fund equivalent to 1% of basic pay of all medical scientists.

While this fund is insufficient to fully resolve its long-standing claims, it can partially resolve the claim and the remainder could be addressed in a future public service agreement, as per the terms of Building Momentum. As previously stated, the MLSA and health management, in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, have been engaged in talks in recent months with the aim of finding a way to advance the claim through the sectoral bargaining process. Several options for moving medical scientists to the biochemist scale, within the fund available, were explored during these talks. These included options that would partially resolve the claim within this agreement but, to date, none has been accepted. Any options that were put on the table were taken seriously and respectfully by both sides, and were discussed, costed, and verified by the HSE, the Department of Health and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in good faith.

The Public Service Agreement Group, PSAG, comprising union and Civil Service representatives, with an independent chair, met on 11 May to consider the MLSA's claim and proposed strike action. It recommended that the matter be immediately referred to the WRC and that industrial peace be maintained in the meantime. Health management met with the MLSA under the auspices of the WRC on 17 May, but, unfortunately, no resolution was reached. While the MLSA agreed to engage at the WRC, it did not lift its industrial action, which is a breach of Building Momentum. The Minister, Deputy Donnelly, is very disappointed that the strike action has proceeded despite it being precluded under the agreement. The Minister recognises the significant disruption caused by the strike and the impact it is having on the health service. Health management is committed to continuing engagement with the MLSA, while acknowledging that all parties must adhere to the provisions allowed for under Building Momentum and to resolve any disputes within the framework of the current agreement.