Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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215. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department will provide meaningful engagement with an organisation (details supplied) and the industrial relations mechanisms of the State in relation to a union pay claim covering pay and conditions for secretarial assistants and parliamentary assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59819/21]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act 2003, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (the “Commission”) has the power to regulate the provision of “secretarial facilities” to Members. “Secretarial facilities” is a term encompassing the staff employed under the Scheme for Secretarial Assistance. The Act requires the Commission to obtain the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform before reaching an agreement with any person in relation to rates of pay, conditions of employment or superannuation rights. In practice, this means that the Commission advises on matters relating to resourcing, grading and terms and conditions of employment and submits proposals for the Minister’s consideration and agreement.

In that regard I am aware that there is a process underway at the Workplace Relations Commission dealing with various issues, including alignment with the current public service pay agreement ‘Building Momentum’ between the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission and SIPTU.

I look forward to a successful resolution of the matter and early presentation of proposals for my agreement.