Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

42. To ask the Minister for Health the details of his plans to resolve the current dispute with staff who are members of a union (details supplied); the steps that he has taken to ensure that testing services operate during this dispute; the way that he plans to recruit and retain the required number of workers in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26871/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 11th to consider this matter. They recommended that the matter be immediately referred to the WRC and that industrial peace be maintained in the meantime.

While the MLSA agreed to engage at the WRC, they have not agreed to lift their strike action which is a breach of Building Momentum. This engagement between the parties took place on May 17th 2022 but, unfortunately, no resolution was reached.

In order to mitigate the disruption caused by the strike, the HSE began cancelling inpatient and day-case elective procedures and hospital outpatient appointments, all to be rescheduled for as soon as possible. Derogations were granted to allow the continuation of dialysis and some cancer services. The HSE will continue to liaise with the MLSA on contingency plans and derogations for days that strike action has been announced. However, there will be an inevitable impact on testing services.

While the Department of Health is disappointed that industrial action has been initiated by the MLSA, and that disruptions have been caused across the health service, Health Management remain keen to engage with the MLSA.

In relation to the query on recruitment and retention for this group of staff I am advised the HSE plans to undertake a national recruitment campaign to promote the role of Medical Scientists both nationally and internationally.