Vol. 416 No. 6
79 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the further discussions which he proposes to have with the ICTU and individual unions to resolve the current dispute concerning the implementation of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress so as to ensure that there is not widespread disruption of essential services.
I met the public service unions on 17 January last to put forward, on behalf of the Government, a revised package of measures on public service pay. That package was designed to address to the maximum extent possible, the concerns of the public service unions having regard to current budgetary constraints and the Government's budgetary strategy as set out in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, and in the Programme for Government. I am now arranging to place in the Oireachtas Library copies of the statement which I issued after that meeting which sets out the full terms of that package.
On 17 January 1992, the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions decided to suspend the day of action scheduled for 28 January 1992, and to consult the various individual public service unions about the package of measures which I put to them, on behalf of the Government.
On 27 February 1992, the Public Services Committee wrote to my Department indicating that they had decided that the position which I outlined to them at our meeting of 17 January 1992, constituted a basis for suspending their campaign of action on the implementation of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress pay terms in the public service.
This has facilitated the restoration of normal relations and the resumption of the dialogue between the Government and the public service unions.
