Written answers

Thursday, 24 November 2016

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Public Sector Pay

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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4. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the contacts his Department has had with trade unions regarding pay restoration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36542/16]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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This Government  strongly supports the Lansdowne Road Agreement as the centrepiece of public service pay policy which provides a negotiated pathway for the phased unwinding of FEMPI pay measures as they apply to existing public servants.

The recent Labour Court's recommendations on Garda pay were explicitly made within the framework provided by the Lansdowne Road Agreement.  However, the wider implications of the recommendations in relation to the continued operation of the Lansdowne Road Agreement as it applies to all public servants across the public service are under careful consideration and assessment by the Government.

I met with ICTU representatives on the 7 November last to get an early input to those considerations by Government from the Public Services Committee of ICTU in terms of the views of the constituent unions and associations of the impact from their perspective of the Labour Court Recommendations made in relation to the Garda Associations. Senior officials within my Department also met with the Public Services Committee of ICTU on the 15th November last where both sides reiterated their commitment to a continued collective approach to public service pay issues. It was also agreed  that those issues arising in relation to the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement could be more appropriately dealt with by the parties under the the relevant provisions of the Lansdowne Road Agreement.  In this regard both parties agreed to remain in ongoing contact on the issues raised over the coming weeks.

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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9. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the discussion he has had with representatives of employers and trade unions in respect of the issues arising from proposed strikes in the public service. [33717/16]

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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34. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the provisions he will put in place for engagement with the trade unions in view of recent pay restorations. [36578/16]

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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36. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will engage with trade unions on public sector pay proposals; and the engagement that has taken place to date. [36577/16]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 34 and 36 together.

In the context of the Labour Court Recommendations on Garda pay, and the potential wider implications for the Lansdowne Road Agreement, I met with representatives from ICTU on the 7th of November to listen to their views and inform considerations on these matters by Government.

Senior officials within my Department also met with the Public Services Committee of ICTU on the 15th November last where both sides reiterated their commitment to a continued collective approach to public service pay issues.  It was also agreed that issues relating to the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement could be dealt with by the parties under the the relevant provisions of the Lansdowne Road Agreement.  Both parties agreed to remain in ongoing contact on the issues raised over the coming weeks.

Officials from my Department also maintain regular formal and informal  contact with other relevant Government Departments and public service employers in relation industrial relations issues  in the public service.

The Government will continue, across the coming weeks, to work with all stakeholders to ensure the continuation of a collective pay policy framework that meets the needs of our public servants, provides stability, and safeguards our economy into the future.

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