Mr. John Clinton:

If people are on completely different pay scales, which is what will happen if some of the allowances we have will not be given to new entrants, it will create a morale problem from the start. We are very concerned about the new pension scheme mentioned by Deputy McDonald because it appears to us that the fast accrual grades will take a much bigger hit. At present the multiplier used means the new pension scheme will cause someone working in the prison service for 40 years to get less than someone in a general Civil Service grade because the person in the prison service pays in 1% more. This is a huge anomaly.

With regard to the wider question the Deputy asked the Secretary General, we have not been asked by ICTU's public services committee to discuss these issues with the employer. We see this as something being done centrally through the public services committee. Allowances that are not unique to us, such as the rent and attendance allowances, would have to be discussed with other public service unions and, in turn, with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.