Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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600. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that medical laboratory scientists who are members of an association (details supplied) took strike action on 18 May 2022 with further industrial action proposed for May and June 2022; his views on the call to have medical laboratory scientists on the same pay parity as their clinical biochemist colleagues; the steps that he is taking to avoid further industrial auction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25796/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Firstly, I would like to acknowledge and pay tribute to the dedication, professionalism and commitment of all medical scientists throughout the country. Their drive and dedication have been key components in our managing of the pandemic.

I acknowledge the MLSA’s claim for pay parity between medical scientists and clinical biochemists. As you may be aware, the current public pay agreement, Building Momentum 2021-2022, includes the process of Sectoral Bargaining, to address outstanding claims such as this one. The MLSA were granted their own bargaining unit to progress this claim. The size of the Sectoral Bargaining fund available to the MLSA, and to all other cohorts of staff bound by this Agreement, equates to 1% of their basic pay. The MLSA and Health management have been engaged in talks over the last number of months with the aim of finding a way to advance their claim for pay parity through the Sectoral Bargaining process.

The Public Service Agreement Group (PSAG), comprised of union and civil service representatives with an independent chair, met on May 11^thto consider this matter.  They recommended that the matter be immediately referred to the WRC and that industrial peace be maintained in the meantime.

The Department of Health is disappointed that industrial action has been initiated by the MLSA and remains open to engagement with them.

As this is an ongoing IR matter, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this point.