Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that I answered a question on the same matter from Deputy Micheál Martin a little earlier but perhaps I can add a few things. The dispute is related to the non-implementation of the job evaluation scheme for support grades. SIPTU claims that this is a breach of the terms of the public sector pay agreements. Management agreed to the terms of the scheme but questions of its implementation were always intended to be subject to further discussions at the conclusion of the exercise. My understanding is that the commitment was to consider the outcome but not to automatically implement it.

As part of the talks which took place under the Lansdowne Road agreement, a chairman's note was agreed by all parties on the re-introduction of the job evaluation scheme. On this basis, discussions commenced in 2016 between the HSE, SIPTU and IMPACT, which is now Fórsa, with regard to the re-establishment of those schemes. Successful engagement with Fórsa led to the approval of the job evaluation scheme for clerical and administrative grades in August 2016. However, an agreement on a scheme for support staff grades could not be reached and the issue was referred to the Lansdowne Road agreement oversight body in early 2017. The oversight body considered the approval of the scheme and recommended that parties should proceed with the job evaluation scheme as planned. It advised that the question of implementing the outcome of the exercise would be considered by the parties at the conclusion thereof. The dispute now centres on the timelines for implementing the outcome of the first two phases. SIPTU is firmly of the view that there was a commitment to pay not earlier than the completion of the second phase but in advance of the completion of the entire process.

Phase 2 was completed in October 2018. Phase 3 involved home help and home care workers. Phase 4 is made up of other support staff grades. Phase 3 is complete but has not yet been reported on and phase 4 is only now under way.

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