Deaf access and ambulance strike
The Senator praised the First Dáil commemoration but said future national broadcasts should better serve deaf viewers, and then raised the NASRA ambulance strike. The Chair clarified that an agreed Oireachtas service had been provided for deaf attendees.
I also give a big thanks to all staff and the organisers of yesterday's An Chéad Dáil commemoration. It was an enjoyable event and a reminder to us all of the need for us, as legislators, to progress the Democratic Programme as set out 100 years go. I do not wish to put a dampener on it, but members of the deaf community have asked that in the future consideration be given to the interpretation of such events broadcast nationwide because they feel they missed out on it.
I also bring up the National Ambulance Service Representative Association, NASRA, strike that commenced at 7 a.m. I tabled a Commencement matter on the subject on 7 November. In 2010 we marched down the street from Parnell Square as part of what was called the 24-7 Alliance. The years of austerity had seen attacks on our pay. We marched in order that pay would not be attacked. The State was going to retain core pay but let additional payments for night duty, working at weekends and Christmas go to the wall. Thus the 24-7 Alliance was born. Then 500 ambulance personnel made a request to join the Psychiatric Nurses Association, PNA. It was a little odd at the time but it has worked out well in the nine years since. I have questioned the Minister previously and put him on notice on 7 November that we do not need to escalate this dispute. As has been said, the health service in its entirety is escalating the staff's dispute and it is not just about pay and conditions. The strike concerns the treatment by the State and the duty of care that they feel they cannot carry out. The dispute is about the right to be heard. It is about having a fundamental right to join a union and having the union of one's choice to represent one. Sinn Féin has no position on the merits or otherwise of pay and conditions claims, only that we believe such disputes are best resolved through dialogue and negotiation. The Trade Union Representation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2018 has been introduced by Sinn Féin and we wish to see it being enacted as soon as possible.
Comment on this
By way of clarification, at the request of the deaf community, the Oireachtas provided a service for it and it was done by prior agreement. Therefore, if anyone complained, he or she should not have done so because he or she got a fair crack of the whip.