Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of parliamentary questions received by her Department since the commencement of industrial action by employees; the number and percentage of questions that have not been answered due to industrial action by staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25813/10]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the extent of the restriction on her in replying to parliamentary questions and letters; the categories of information that are denied to her because of industrial action; if it includes information in relation to reports conducted by bodies other than the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25892/10]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the steps she is taking to ensure that parliamentary questions are answered by her in view of the fact that questions are referred by her to the Health Service Executive for reply and many other questions are not replied to due to industrial action; if she has any proposals for change which will result in a restoration of normal parliamentary accountability in responding to parliamentary questions. [25734/10]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the proposals she has to ensure that representations made by Members of the Oireachtas on behalf of members of the public to her Department are responded to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26905/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 76, 110 and 255 together.

Industrial action in relation to the processing of Parliamentary work by members of IMPACT and the Civil and Public Services Union (CPSU) commenced from 1st March 2010. A total of 1725 Parliamentary Questions were taken by my Department during the period from 3rd March 2010 to 11th June 2010. Of these, 1044 (60 %) have not been answered due to industrial action by certain staff both within my Department and in the Health Service Executive.

While I fully appreciate the frustration of Deputies who have been unable to obtain information through the usual Parliamentary channels, the situation has recently improved regarding the processing of PQs insofar as members of IMPACT who work in the HSE have suspended their industrial action with immediate effect and have resumed the handling of Parliamentary work. However, industrial action by the Civil and Public Services Union (CPSU) remains in place and this is affecting the ability of my Department to process certain PQs and representations, in particular those where my Department would refer issues on to the HSE for direct reply. This is because direct referrals are usually dealt with by Clerical Officers.

During the period of industrial action by members of IMPACT, access to financial and other management reports relating to the HSE was very limited. This situation is now returning to normal. I am not aware of any difficulties in relation to accessing information in relation to reports by agencies or bodies other than the HSE.

Responding to the information needs of the Oireachtas is a priority for my Department and I very much regret that in recent months it has not been possible to provide a substantive response to many Parliamentary Questions due to industrial action. All Parliamentary Questions affected by the action have been answered by my Department to the effect that the industrial dispute prevented the supply of substantive answers, and Deputies have been consistently advised to raise the question again in due course should the matter remain of ongoing concern. This approach was designed to prevent a backlog of questions building up, and thereby further affecting both the quality and timeliness of the response provided to members of the Oireachtas.

The Deputies will be aware that a significant proportion of the questions related to individual cases where the information being sought through the Parliamentary process might be obtained by alternative means. Upon cessation of the industrial action by the Civil and Public Services Union normal handling of Parliamentary work by Clerical Officers will immediately resume.