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

I thank all the Deputies for the points they made. In terms of how we will move this matter forward, many Deputies are referring to two different issues. The first is the distinction between covered and non-covered workers, which is at the heart of this section. When will the provision be implemented? It will be implemented by the passage of this legislation. It does not require a further statutory instrument from me. It will be implemented when this legislation becomes law if, as is hoped, it is passed tonight by the Dáil and next week by the Seanad.

On the issues the teacher unions are currently raising on the different position on pay curves depending on when a person joined the teaching profession, that process is already under way. We are doing that work. My Department met all the teacher unions in recent weeks and we will continue that work with them to see if there is a path by which this matter can be resolved. That is not contained in the legislation but it is in the agreement with the teacher unions. We will honour our commitment to that process and see whether there is a way to progress the matter, if not resolve it.

I will return to a point I made last night. All of us in this House should know that agreement is not reached with one part of the public service without an expectation and a need that it will apply to all. While it is an issue that many Deputies raise on behalf of teachers, there would be an expectation that how we deal with the matter in the teaching profession would be applied everywhere. As I have said in response to the questions put to me, that work is under way with the teacher unions and we will take it very seriously.

Further, I can tell Deputy Bríd Smith that I have ample experience of the trade union movement from both sides of the table.

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