A POLITICAL row erupted last night as Michelle O'Neill accused health chiefs of showing "blatant disregard" for nurses and frontline staff over their failure to reimburse wages lost in strike action.
The deputy first minister said a response provided to The Irish News by the Department of Health in which they insisted it was outside their "authority" to pay back monies pledged earlier this year was "appalling" - and that the minister and his aides should "stop hiding behind procedure".
In May, Finance Minister Conor Murphy confirmed £1.6 million had been secured to repay thousands of nurses and health care workers who lost wages when they took to the picket lines for three days last year over low pay and unsafe staffing levels.
Health minister Robin Swann sought legal advice on the issue - even consulting the Attorney General - in a move that provoked outrage among NHS workers hit by Covid pressures, particularly during the second wave.
However, The Irish News understands that matters came to a head at the Executive last week when Ms O'Neill - who first lobbied for the re-payments back in March - sought assurances from Mr Swann to deliver.
When asked to outline the reasons for the seven month delay in paying the lost wages given by the Department of Finance to health officials, a Department of Health spokesman yesterday said there is "no legislative provision allowing for the reinstatement of strike pay".
He added this was also "not provided for under current Terms and Conditions".
"On this basis, the authorisation of the reimbursement of salary deductions made due to strike action is outside the authority of the Department as it is not in compliance with the principles of Managing Public Money NI," he said.
"Further legal advice on this matter has been provided to the Executive. Unfortunately, the department is unable to give a timeframe for a decision at this time."
Ms O'Neill has said the wages must be delivered "without delay".
"I have continually raised this at the Executive as late as last Thursday. The delay by the health minister and his department to pay this money is inexcusable," she said.
"This latest response from the Department of Health is appalling. It shows a blatant disrespect to health care staff who have been to the fore of the Covid battle. This represents a one off payment to staff in recognition of their efforts in responding to Covid. The department/minister should stop hiding behind procedure and make the payment."
Royal College of Nursing chief Pat Cullen, who last December led her members out in their first ever strike, described the response as "disappointing".
“I will let nurses make up their own minds about what this statement says about the value placed upon them by the Department of Health in relation to this issue," she said.
"The finance minister gave the Department of Health the money to reinstate pay lost due to strike action in May. Over six months later the department is still refusing to pay this. Nursing staff have been raising this issue for some time and members of the Health Committee have raised it consistently with the Health Minister on their behalf. Many nurses will be very disappointed to read this response."
