Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The context of the discussions that I initiated with the trade unions and associations representing public servants across the public service was the need to plan and provide for a measured unwinding of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts. My aims were also to secure the continuation of the productivity measures introduced under the Haddington Road agreement, honour the Government's commitments under that agreement and provide for a continuation of the stable industrial relations agreement and structures in the public service which has served our recovery well. Any outcome also had to be consistent with our international obligations under the Stability and Growth Pact to manage our public finances in a prudent manner.

The Lansdowne Road agreement, if ratified by the trade unions, will extend the terms of the Haddington Road agreement to September 2018. Given the complex industrial relations processes within the public service, issues on matters of local interest are raised on an ongoing basis between sectoral management and trade unions, with or without the assistance of the Labour Relations Commission or involvement by my Department. I understand that at the time the agreement was being negotiated, the Labour Relations Commission was asked to resolve a number of sectoral discussions on matters of local interest. These discussions do not form part of the proposed public service agreement, are not part of the overall pay settlement and are not in the document on which public servants are being balloted. Copies of any agreed outcome to industrial relations issues in other sectors are not retained by my Department.

For the Deputy's information, the following issues were raised by Civil Service unions with officials of my Department and agreed with the assistance of the Labour Relations Commission. First, the previously agreed approach to resolving anomalies on pay between former Health Service Executive and Combat Poverty Agency staff transferred to the Department of Social Protection in 2010 will be applied from 1 January 2016. Second, various matters raised by the Civil and Public Service Union, including an outstanding claim for loss of "bank time" which was abolished in 2010, a review of pay and allowance structures for attendants in the cultural institutions, some anomalies highlighted by the union on leave entitlements and issues relating to the redeployment of some Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine staff are to be subjects of further discussion and-or referral to arbitration, as appropriate. Third, as a pilot, staff will again be able to take up to 1.5 days of flexi-leave per month, subject to an overall limit of 13 days per annum.

See this speech in context