Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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163. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of meetings that have been scheduled by a union (details supplied) with his Department since January 2020 in relation to secretarial assistant pay; and the number of meetings that have taken place. [34463/21]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that SIPTU has been engaging with the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission in relation to the terms and conditions of its members who are political support staff of Oireachtas Members. The staff in question are employed in the Houses of the Oireachtas by individual TDs and Senators.

The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act, 2003 requires the Commission, in relation to secretarial facilities, to obtain my consent before reaching an agreement with any person in relation to rates of pay, conditions of employment and superannuation.

In line with general practice in such matters where my Department is not the employer, my officials do not engage directly with the staff representatives in relation to terms and conditions.

While my officials will continue to engage with officials from the Oireachtas as appropriate, no meetings involving my Department have taken place with SIPTU on this issue.