Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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808. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he has taken or will take to allow medical scientists to achieve pay parity with others who carry out similar work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4226/21]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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812. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to review the status of the medical scientist profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4235/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 808 and 812 together.

I fully recognise the valuable role performed by Medical Scientists who are one of the health care professions whose work is critical in nature and is at the forefront of Irelands response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

I can confirm that my Department has met with the HSE and the MLSA on a number of occasions in recent months. As the matters raised could not be resolved, the issues were referred to the WRC with a first meeting held on 17 November 2020. This process is ongoing.

Any outcome from conciliation at the WRC will be addressed within the structures provided for by the Public Service Agreement. The upcoming Public Service Agreement, which will be in place until the end of 2022, is currently being balloted on by the unions.