Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. I also acknowledge the Cathaoirleach's comments. I should have said that this issue has been raised with me by him and many of his colleagues from across the floor of the Seanad in recent times. My understanding is that both parties, that is, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission and SIPTU, have written to the WRC and want to go back to the WRC for negotiations. That is what now needs to happen. I welcome that and look forward to that happening.

The Senator mentioned the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021. I will be here in the next week or two to deal with that. It provides for a significant increase in the resources of the Oireachtas of more than €40 million across the next three years. That is an increase of almost 10%, which is needed and which will be used for a variety of different purposes.

What I want to do this morning is clearly set out what my role is under the legislation. My role is to give consent to a proposal that is put to me by the commission. The commission is the entity that is directly involved in the negotiations. I have given a clear political signal and that is significant. I have looked at the proposal that was put on the table in September and there is a lot of merit in it. The realignment with public sector norms is important. Even under the existing terms of Building Momentum, while the increases on 1 October 2021 and 1 October 2022 are 1% in headline terms, they also involve a minimum of €500 each time. For somebody at the bottom of the pay scale, that is 2% each time. There is also the 1% from the sectoral bargaining fund on 1 February.

An element from the previous agreement is also on the table. It relates to the issue of incremental credits in order that people can start further up the pay scale and so on. There is a lot in that but it is not for me to get into the detail of it. I have given a signal for the commission to engage intensively with SIPTU in the normal industrial relations channels at the WRC and I stand ready with my officials to consider any proposal that is put to us. I hope that will happen sooner rather than later.