Mr. Justin McCamphill:

The ICTU paper has set out a case for changes to the Barnett formula. Currently, it is based on just expenditure in England. It does not take any account of the particular needs of people in Northern Ireland. We know the Barnett formula was reviewed and changed for Wales and Scotland. We believe the same thing needs to happen for Northern Ireland. Looking at Northern Ireland as part of the UK economy as a whole, it is clear that what is there at the minute is not working. We see it across the whole public sector with regard to pay. The case Mr. Brady makes about further education, FE, colleges is 100% correct. A teacher in an FE college who does the same job, substantially, as a teacher in sixth form in a school, for example, receives significantly less money. Not only is the starting salary less, but so is the top of the main scale. It is at that point that the gap becomes quite wide.

The University and College Union, and the NASUWT, which represents teachers in those colleges, would prefer that the colleges actually move to the Department of Education rather than the Department for the Economy. The divergence in government departments has led to a divergence in conditions of service.

I am not that au faitwith issues regarding the agrifood industry but ICTU is supportive of migrant workers. It works with migrant workers to make sure they have the same rights and conditions as other citizens.

We know the state pension is low and we expect, if there are discussions around constitutional change, that the movement would be to get the best of both worlds, North and South, if that is the direction of travel.