asked the Minister for the Public Service the financial compensation which is being provided for the messengers, ushers and staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas for attendance during abnormal hours of sittings.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Oireachtas Staff Compensation.
13.
Staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas who are entitled to overtime payments are paid in accordance with the normal procedure agreed through the machinery of conciliation and arbitration for additional hours worked during abnormal hours of sittings of the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Staff not entitled to overtime payments are compensated either by time off in lieu or by way of ex-gratia payments where these are considered to be merited. The claims which have been made in respect of abnormal hours of attendance during the January-August session are being dealt with in accordance with the standard arrangements.
Is the Minister aware that staff entitled to overtime were treated far better in financial terms than staff who are not entitled to overtime payments? Only a very small ex-gratia payment was made to the latter. Could the Minister not regularise the situation and ensure that, if there is necessity to work overtime here, staff are generously compensated for it?
The compensation sanctioned has been in the usual form. It is important to remember that some staff of the House receive a weekly allowance to cover overtime and extra duties. Notwithstanding that, such staff received additional payment in respect of 60 hours extra attendance worked from January to August of this year while other staff not entitled to any regular payment of overtime for extra duties received compensation in respect of 220 hours extra time worked.
(Dublin Central): Could the Minister give some indication how he assessed the amount per hour for the 60 hours mentioned? Was it in accordance with the usual overtime rate paid?
It was based on the application of the practice in operation in this House in the past.
(Dublin Central): What is the practice?
The practice in the past applied usually to hours which were worked during the night but, in the early part of this year, a large number of hours abnormally worked were during daytime hours.