Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Deputy would acknowledge and understand the importance of the public service pay agreements we currently have in place for all public servants. He is correct that RACO has called for its own independent pay review group. The UK Government has a similar group in place, but the UK Government also has a different method of determining rates of public sector pay.

They have independent pay review bodies for individual sectors; one each for the army, police, teachers and nurses. It would be difficult to take out one public sector group here and have a separate pay determination for it. That is, however, not within my gift; it is a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The British armed forces do not have representative associations to negotiate on their behalf. They do not have group associations such as the PDFORRA and RACO to interact with Government or with the Departments of Defence and Public Expenditure and Reform. The overarching public service pay policy, as I said earlier, is a matter for the Minister for Finance, and Public Expenditure and Reform.

I acknowledge RACO's leadership in accepting the independent commission's recommendations.

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