Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2024
21. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has engaged with the Citizens' Information Board in an effort to prevent industrial action being undertaken by National Advocacy Service staff due to Labour Court recommendations not being instituted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25426/24]
View answerI acknowledge and value the important advocacy services that the National Advocacy Service (NAS) provides to adults with disabilities across the country, helping to ensure their wishes and preferences are heard in decisions that affect their lives.
As you may be aware, NAS is a Company Limited by Guarantee, and a registered charity, that is funded by the Citizens Information Board (CIB) to provide services. CIB lies under my Department's aegis.
CIB has informed my Department that NAS employees have balloted for industrial action, starting on the 12th June, and, as funders of CIB, we are monitoring the situation closely.
I understand that CIB is actively engaging with NAS to resolve these industrial relations issues, in the context of the Labour Court recommendation. The CIB held a facilitated meeting with NAS, along with Kevin Duffy, former Chairman of the Labour Court, on 30th May last to discuss a path forward to resolve these issues. CIB wrote to NAS in follow-up to that meeting, last week and there has been ongoing discussions involving all parties since that date. These are continuing this week.
My Department is fully supportive of a facilitated engagement between both parties as the best way to resolve these issues and we have communicated this support to CIB. I encourage all parties involved to engage fully with this process - until its conclusion.
The focus of all parties should also be on the people using these critical services and working to minimise any impact on them by reaching agreement. I would therefore hope that while the proposed process is ongoing, industrial action would not proceed.
We remain open to discussions on the pay and conditions of this group and we have engaged with our colleagues in Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to this. If, following the proposed process, a request for increased funding for NAS is submitted to my Department by CIB, my officials will consider it carefully and constructively, and continue to engage with colleagues in the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on budgetary implications.
