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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Dec 1952

Vol. 135 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Civil Service Pay Increases.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state whether, in respect of claims for increases in salaries or wages of lower paid Government employees, consideration of these claims has been deferred pending a decision on the general question of civil servants' salary claims; and, if so, whether he will authorise a payment of a lump sum by way of token increase (similar to those token payments made by some semi-State and private concerns to their clerical staffs) in view of the near approach of Christmas and the considerable help such a payment would be to these employees and their families at the Christmas season.

I assume that the Deputy's question refers to Government employees who, by reason of the quasi-industrial nature of their employment, do not come within the scope of the scheme of conciliation and arbitration for the Civil Service. As I already indicated in correspondence with the Deputy, I felt it necessary when this question was first raised to defer consideration of it until a definite trend in the wages of outside workers had emerged, and until the Government had had an opportunity of considering the wages position of State employees generally in relation to that trend and to any other relevant considerations.

The stage has now been reached when, I think, that discussions on these matters might be initiated. As soon as the Departments concerned are in a position to do so I shall arrange for them to participate in such discussions.

Obviously, I could not agree to make payments of the kind suggested in the second part of the Deputy's question, as such action on my part would prejudice the Government's position in relation to these discussions.

May I take it that without waiting for the Government's decision on the findings of the arbitration board he is now prepared to allow discussions in regard to this matter to be initiated without any undue delay?

Without undue delay, certainly. But time must be given to examine the position. It is hoped when that has been done to enter into these discussions at an early date.

In other words, the Minister will allow them to use the ordinary channels of conference and negotiations?

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