The Labour Court recommended urgent renewed discussions between the Health Service Executive and the Medical Laboratory Scientists’ Association and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation on pay scales for 120 Haemovigilance Officers. The recommendation was dated 30 May 2025. It also recommended maintaining the existing higher rate for staff already receiving it while discussions continue.
The unions sought the Senior Medical Scientist pay scale for the officers, including retrospective application for those not moved to the higher scale. They said about 85% of officers were already paid the higher rate. The HSE argued that the Devine assessment and revised Medical Scientist pay scales did not apply to the group as a whole.
The Court said the issues had not been fully explored and noted the HSE had not assessed the operational effects of paying two rates for the same Senior Medical Scientist grade. It recommended that the parties resume engagement, with WRC conciliation support if appropriate, to resolve the pay-scale issues.