Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The benchmarking body is an independent body which, with the benefit of those working with it, is doing a comprehensive analysis by grade of what has happened since the last benchmarking round several years ago. It will decide what increases these grades will get by examining the movements in comparable grades in the private sector over the period. It will also take into account benefits employees have. There are benefits, such as productivity bonuses and other ancillary payments, that private sector employees have which public service employees do not get, by and large.

The body must make a considered judgment. In doing that, it must examine the movements in the past five years between various grades and a comparable position in the private sector. It will then make its judgment. One issue it will have to take into account is pensions. The private sector has raised this because of the changes happening with the pension systems in its sector, which is a separate issue.

In the last round, the benchmarking body took into account pensions for public and civil servants. No one in the public service unions is ignoring the fact that the body must examine such a benefit. If, however, the body includes this one benefit, it must look at the benefits private sector employees have such as Christmas, summer and productivity bonuses. These must all be balanced in the round.

That is why benchmarking is a fair system. It is also a much fairer system than the old analogue or relativity ones, where one grade chased another. A grade was awarded an increase and then every other followed on over a few years. In benchmarking, there is a proper analysis by grade across the system with a comparable grade in the private sector, where that is possible. It is not always possible, but it is in most cases.

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