Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have no plans to review the terms of reference. As to SIPTU's role, parties to the Lansdowne Road agreement were required to have the opportunity to consult and give their views on the pay commission, which took up a fair bit of the summer period.

I do not know whether Mr. O'Connor is aware of it; I will not comment on that. Everybody was given an opportunity to give their input into the process. If there had not been a need for such a period, this body might have been set up a little quicker but I did need to go through a consultation period, which I wanted to do, because there would be no point putting in place a mechanism which would then be undermined by people who might use it as an input. It is now clear that if people were not aware of it then, everybody is certainly fully aware of it now. I am certain the role it will play will be in the aftermath of where we are now. Where we are now is a matter for the Government and for those who represent employees or who work in various public services. It is for that reason that we are engaging with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

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