David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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374. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he will end the pay inequality to which teachers who qualified after 2011 have been subject for the past five years; when he will establish the public service pay commission; in the absence of pay equality, to outline the justification for pay inequality having regard to the principle of equal pay for equal work; when he will make the work of teachers equal to the equal work they do; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11686/16]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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375. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he will end the pay inequality to which teachers who qualified after 2011 are subject, given five years of salary cuts and the proposal to establish a public service pay commission; the timeframe the commission will have to act on pay inequality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11782/16]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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376. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform why he has not ended the policy of inequality imposed on teachers, some of whom have lost over €20,000 for up to five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11784/16]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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377. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he will end pay inequality for teachers and make their pay equal for the equal work they do, given that the financial emergency is over, the economy is growing and we hear it is time to make work pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11786/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 374 to 377, inclusive, together.

The issue of addressing the difference in incremental salary scales between those public servants, including Teachers, who entered public service employment since 2011 and those who entered before that date was addressed with the relevant union interests under the provisions of the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA). Any further consideration of remuneration for any group of public servants, including issues relating to more recently recruited public servants, will fall to be examined within the provisions of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013 -2018 (Lansdowne Road Agreement).  It will also of course have to comply with the terms of the Financial Emergency in the Public Interest Acts 2009 - 2013 (FEMPI), as well as its affordability being underpinned through delivering enhanced work place practices and productivity.

The Programme for Government also states that Government will establish a Public Service Pay Commission to examine pay levels across the public service.  The precise structure of such a commission and the technical aspects as to how it would operate have yet to be decided upon and would require broad consultation, including engagement with staff representatives as was committed to in the Lansdowne Road Agreement.  My officials have begun to review international best practice in respect of public service pay determination models.  This will help frame the Government's thinking on how to establish a fair, transparent and accountable process for determining public service pay, taking into account the views of all stakeholders.