Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. The following is not really related to the question so he might have to come back with this information, but we have the opportunity. In regard to the pay talks, and it came up at the recent Estimates as well, there have been savings, and when we questioned those, it was that the money for the pay talks had to be returned to the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. Unfortunate does not even describe it when money that is secured has to be handed back. Will that delay the process? Is there any update on the pay talks? Some of the issues the Big Start campaign at SIPTU has raised is that there had been agreement on the graduate pay level. Where it was required to have three years' service, as part of the pay talks the deal was that, once graduates had their qualifications, they were eligible for the higher rate. Everything rests in relation to the pay talks. Can the Minister give any updates either now or in a written response?

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