David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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441. To ask the Minister for Health the directions provided to the payment of staff in the public sector and Civil Service who fall under the direction of his Department for the days during Storm Emma when staff were directed to stay at home; if deductions in pay and annual leave were made to staff in the public sector or Civil Service as a result of days lost during the storm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11877/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I did not issue any direction to staff of my own Department or to staff of bodies under the aegis of this Department with regard to attendance for work on the days during Storm Emma.  

The Deputy may be interested to note that the HSE did issue a 'broadcast' to all its staff indicating that HSE staff who came to work on the Red Alert weather warning storm days would be paid for time worked and receive time off in lieu. Staff who could not get to work or whose place of work was closed due to the red alert weather warning will be paid as normal and will not have to take annual leave. The HSE has also advised that they will lead a working group to establish a clear protocol for dealing with future red alert weather warnings with a view to reporting before the end of June 2018.

In terms of other bodies under the aegis of the Department, arrangements for their staff would be a matter for that organisation. In general, there is no statutory entitlement for an employee to be paid where they cannot attend for work because of extreme weather. Any more beneficial arrangement would be a matter for agreement between the employer and the employee but equally, I have said that I would encourage employers to take a long-term view of the working relationship.

Within my own Department, the Personnel Officer directed staff to stay at home for the red alert weather days. All staff were paid for those days and those staff who were available for work on those days i.e. had not pre-booked annual leave were not required to take annual leave.