Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 that was commenced many months ago resulted in the proposals being made to all unions this week. It provides a fair, affordable and sustainable – which is probably the most important aspect for the country – path to managing the €200 million of costs associated with reversing the measures introduced since 2011. The agreement provides for two interventions at points 4 and 8 on the pay scale and will have the effect of bypassing these points on the scale, reducing the time for those professionals having to reach the maximum point. If they are accepted, the measures will apply from 1 March 2019 and each applicable entrant will reach the scale point much faster than they would today. The measure over time will benefit more than 60,000 new public service entrants since 2011. I very much wish all the unions well in their deliberations and encourage them to take a lengthy look at what is on offer.

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