Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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99. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to negotiate a new public sector pay deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36594/20]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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107. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the negotiations for a new public service stability agreement, PSSA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36721/20]

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I was in the waiting room with Deputy Doherty so I apologise for being late. I wonder if the Minister could tell the House his plans in regard to negotiating a new public sector pay deal.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 107 together.

The present system of collective agreements has been in place in the public service since the Croke Park agreement was negotiated in 2010. These collective agreements have helped to ensure that public pay is managed in a sustainable, affordable and orderly manner. These agreements have also enabled significant reform of public services and changes to work practices.

The current public service agreement, the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020, has provided for benefits to different income groups ranging from 6.2% to 7.4% over three years, and up to 10% for new entrant members of the single public service pension scheme. At the end of the agreement, the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, pay reductions were reversed for all public servants earning up to €70,000, which equates to almost 90% of public servants. In addition, an agreement under the framework of the PSSA was reached with ICTU in 2018 to deal with the issue of new entrant pay.

The final pay adjustment of the current agreement was implemented as planned on 1 October last with pay for public servants increased by 2%. Also on 1 October, fixed allowances were increased by between 5% and 8% in accordance with the unwinding of pay reductions set out under the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017. The Government was determined to ensure the current agreement was honoured in full.

As the Deputy is aware, I have instructed my officials to engage in exploratory talks with the public services committee of ICTU to establish if there is a basis for a successor agreement to the public service stability agreement that would ensure pay stability, industrial peace and the delivery of quality public services. These exploratory discussions are ongoing. As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the detail of those talks, which should remain confidential to the parties but I do hope that in the weeks ahead it will be possible for an agreement to be reached because there is value for both sides in having a new public service pay deal.