Minister refuses to get involved in carers dispute

The Minister for Health, Michael Martin, has said he can’t intervene in the care workers dispute in the disability sector.

Mr Martin says the matter is currently before the State’s Industrial relations machinery, and it would not be right for him to become involved.

Last minute talks at the Labour Relations Commission failed to break the impasse in negotiations on a pay increase for the carers.

Almost 4,500 carers, represented by Impact, are taking strike action today after their demands for a pay increase to match childcare care-workers was rejected by health employers.

The pay dispute threatens to see thousands of mentally handicapped patients sent home to their families.

Impact’s Bernard Harbour, says the employers refuse to budge on the issue.