Ms Patricia King:

It is important that our position on this issue is made clear for the record. I could not have been clearer in setting out that position. No employer part of the public service that I have dealt with would say it does not understand our position. SIPTU has a large constituency of low-paid workers for whom allowances and regular rostered overtime are features. We are on the record everywhere in this regard. The Labour Court is awash with submissions from us on the issue. In short, our position is extremely clear. I am not conversant with all of the procedures and everything that goes on in this committee, but in case I have not stated it clearly enough, that is our position.