Labour Court sends four psychologists’ fast-accrual pension claim to national discussions

The Labour Court recommended that a claim by four psychologists at St Otteran’s Hospital for fast-accrual pensions outside the statutory scheme be addressed nationally by the parties. It signed the recommendation on 12 September 2021. The union argued that the psychologists met the statutory criteria and pointed to other psychologists receiving fast accrual. The HSE said their work did not involve direct or personal responsibility for the care or charge of relevant psychiatric patients. The Court made no recommendation on interpreting the Mental Treatment Act 1945 or the statutory register. The parties could not clarify how many other staff might be affected, leaving the Court unable to assess the wider impact of a recommendation. It said the statutory interpretation issue was for the appropriate statutory process.