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Minister Zappone comments on industrial action in Oberstown Children Detention Campus
The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone TD has expressed regret at the decision of care staff in the Oberstown Children Detention Campus, Oberstown, Lusk Co Dublin to engage in industrial action today, 31 May 2016.
“I very much regret the decision of Oberstown care staff to engage in industrial action today. I understand their concerns relate to staff safety and I agree that every step must be taken to ensure safe and secure custody of children in detention and a safe working environment for staff. Major advances have been achieved in the Oberstown campus in recent years, with significant capital investment in new children detention facilities, the first programme of recruitment for care staff in over 10 years and the establishment of dedicated cross – campus management, human resources and training functions. I want to see this progress continue”.
“The issues which are the subject of this dispute are best dealt with through a process of dialogue and agreement under the State’s independent industrial relations machinery. I welcome the fact that staff representatives have agreed to engage with Oberstown management at the Workplace Relations Commission on Wednesday of this week. However, the fact that this engagement is happening means that, having regard to normal industrial relations practice and the Lansdowne Road Agreement, there is no basis for this industrial action to take place. I am concerned at the interruption that will result in the normal routines of children this morning, including their attendance at school on the campus with state examinations taking place within the next week”.
The Minister indicated that she would be closely monitoring this issue in conjunction with the new board of management for Oberstown which was recently appointed and will commence from 1 June 2016. The Minister expressed the hope that progress would soon be made on addressing issues of common concern between management and staff at the upcoming meeting of the parties at the Workplace Relations Commission.