Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I object to nine questions being grouped together. I raised four different, absolutely distinct areas in my questions and would like to register my objection and ask that it does not happen again.

Question No. 4 concerns plans for public service reform to be driven by the Taoiseach's Department. I particularly want to raise again two long-running pay and pension issues. The community employment, CE, scheme supervisors and their trade union representatives have, as the Taoiseach knows, been engaged in a protracted campaign that dates back to his previous term in government. Thus far, three Governments have refused to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation that a pension scheme be put in place for CE scheme supervisors. Previous Governments have taken the position, as they have with section 39 workers more generally, that CE scheme supervisors are not public sector workers. It is to their very great credit that they have persisted with a campaign that now spans 12 years. I understand the resolution proposed by the unions has been considered by the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and is now with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for decision. What comfort can the Taoiseach give to the supervisors that this Government will finally act on the Labour Court recommendation that goes back to 2008?

I mention also the outstanding pay restoration for section 39 workers. The Taoiseach will recall that they joined CE scheme supervisors on the streets earlier this year. Governments past and present have sought to treat these workers as public sector workers for the purposes of deducting pay, such as under financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, provisions, for example, but have consistently failed to deliver on pay restoration. I do not have to remind the Taoiseach that multiple pay increases have been advanced for politicians. I do not need to tell him how that sticks in the craw of society generally but the craw of the aforementioned workers in particular. I could say much more abut this but time is limited. Their case has been proven. The Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, deal reached with the Department in 2018 included pay restoration for staff in 50 bodies on a pilot basis with further payment due in October 2020 and 2021. These commitments have not been met and they must be met.

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