Mary Harney
Question:48 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Finance the progress, if any, that has been made towards putting in place a new mechanism for determining public sector pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15225/95]
Written Answers. - Public Sector Pay.
To address the issue of rising public service pay costs, the Government decided to review the whole system of public service pay determination, to make the system more transparent and to include assessment criteria which strike a balance between the needs of staff, the Government and taxpayers alike. The first step in implementing this new pay determination process was taken last year when a revised scheme of conciliation and arbitration for the Civil Service was introduced. The new features of the scheme included a three-person arbitration board and the introduction of agreed criteria, including the state of the public finances, to be taken into account at all stages of the process. There are new measures to ensure peaceful resolution of disputes and limitations on industrial action in the case of senior staff, those with personnel/management responsibilities and those involved in essential services. Arrangements are in train as regards the appointment of the members of the arbitration board. The amended scheme for the civil service provides a model for the negotiations in other areas of the public service. Negotiations are still in progress in the wider public service, and it is expected that revised systems of pay determination will be finalised in the coming months.