Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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747. To ask the Minister for Health the arrangements that were made during industrial relations discussions in the health sector in relation to pay, hours and practice, over the past four years; the way they differed from the Haddington Road agreement; if it is envisaged that these will be changed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20750/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Croke Park Agreement and Haddington Road Agreement (HRA) have been crucial to the health service’s ability to manage through the very difficult circumstances of recent years. Agreement between public service management and public service staff representatives was reached on a series of measures to secure an additional €1 billion annual saving from the public service pay and pensions bill by 2015. A key requirement for the health service during the process was to protect front-line care while at the same time significantly reducing costs.

Savings have been achieved through the reduction in the overtime rates payable, the elimination of twilight payments. Savings were also achieved through the reduction to pay for those in receipt of salaries of €65,000, measures to delay or freeze increments, and balancing measures for those already at the maximum of their scales. In addition, the HRA provides for an increase in working hours for most staff and this will deliver a long-term, sustainable and unprecedented increase in productivity.

As part of the HRA a Joint Oversight Group was established to provide a forum for discussion between management and unions with a view, as far as possible, to oversee and support implementation of the terms of the Agreement as they apply to the health service. The parties agreed to resolve disputes in accordance with paragraph 5.1 of the Agreement. Where disputes progress to the Labour Court the court's decision is final and binding.

The first official engagement between public sector employers and ICTU took place on Tuesday 12th May and the unions were provided with a fiscal briefing. The approach to the discussions and the way in which it will differ from the Haddington Road Agreement process will become clearer as the talks progress.