David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend all the Teachtaí Dála whose names are associated with this matter and the many others who did not have the opportunity to contribute but who support the thrust of the debate.

I have met many CE supervisors and assistant supervisors in Waterford on a number of occasions over the years. I also met a national group of supervisors that has been campaigning for justice in this area for years. I imagine the Minister has met that group or is at least aware of its concerns and, therefore, of the background to this matter. He will also be aware that the Labour Court made a recommendation on this issue on 1 May 2008 and the supervisors and assistant supervisors want it implemented. I do not believe that is unreasonable. The supervisors and assistant supervisors have a clear pay link with managers, instructors and administrative staff in community training workshops and they are seeking a defined pension scheme similar to that which applies to these grades. What happened to them was a double injustice. It was complicated by the fact that in December 2007, the Public Service Benchmarking Body did not grant a pay increase to the majority of public servants because of the value it placed on public sector pensions. These supervisors and assistant supervisors received no pay increases at the time, even though they were not in receipt of pensions. They did not receive pay increases on the basis of the assumption that they were in receipt of pensions, which was not the case.

The unions accepted that while FÁS was not the direct employer of supervisors and assistant supervisors on CE schemes, because it was the funding agency, they had a claim for a defined benefit scheme. The Labour Court agreed and my simple message to the Minister and the Government is to please implement the Labour Court recommendation, accept the logic and justice of this position and do what is right for these people.

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