Gerald Nash (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Well done to the witnesses for encapsulating the challenges that young teachers are facing. They are correct that some improvements have been made recently in terms of the contractual situation but more can be made. I am glad that the TUI representatives welcome the recommendations and findings in the University of Limerick report. When the process started a couple of years ago I was very anxious to ensure that the public sector trade unions were involved because I think there was an incorrect view that the casualisation in the work place and precarious work in general were exclusive to the private sector. We know only too well that they have become a feature of the public sector as well over the past decade notwithstanding attempts made in successive public sector pay agreements to try to address some of the worst excesses of those practices. For second level teachers and for those operating in the third level sector the forthcoming public sector pay talks will provide an opportunity to address some of the issues around precarious work.

As the witnesses correctly pointed out, some improvements have been made in some recent agreements. There is no doubt about that and I think that is on the record. Without exposing us to their negotiating strategy, could the witnesses identify in broad terms what they feel are the priorities for their own unions, separately? What is the way in which they would address the issues of casualisation and how will they narrow the pay gap that has emerged over the last few years? I know that efforts have been made to do that and to address the whole issue of pay equality, and more specifically, precarious work. How will the witnesses use the issue presented by the forthcoming pay talks to address that very serious issue?