I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 259 together.
On 6 February 1986, on the proposal of the Government of the day, Dáil Éireann modified a finding by the public service arbitrator on a teachers' pay claim. The effect of the modification was to provide for phasing of the payment of the finding in accordance with the terms of the then draft proposals for a public service pay agreement. As a result of this phasing and taking account of certain compensatory payments to teachers, the teacher unions claim that a further £75 million is due to them.
The settlement terms of the dispute in 1986 acknowledged the teachers' right to pursue the matter further but also recognised the Government's position that payment of retrospection is not possible. The teachers' unions have requested a meeting with myself and the Minister for Finance to discuss this issue and we have agreed to meet them.