Richard Bruton
Question:18 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if a pay claim on behalf of sec ondary teachers has been lodged with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11844/00]
Priority Questions. - Teachers Pay Claim.
A claim from the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland for a 30% increase in salaries and allowances for teachers was lodged with the Teachers Conciliation Council on 13 March. As claims before the council are a matter solely for the council I do not propose to make a statement on this issue at this time. The full terms of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness are on offer to the ASTI.
The Government has made its position clear on the issue of special claims generally. As the Taoiseach emphasised recently at the Irish Institute of Management conference, adherence to the letter and spirit of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness is vital. The programme contains new and innovative proposals for the introduction of a comprehensive system of benchmarking of public service salaries and jobs, internally in the public service and across the economy. These proposals provide an excellent opportunity for public servants, including teachers, to have their roles, responsibilities and remuneration examined and adjudicated on by a professional and independent body during the course of the programme. I understand discussions have begun with the public service committee of the ICTU on the establishment of the benchmarking body as provided for in the programme.
How does the Government intend to deal with an application from a union that is not affiliated to the ICTU? Does he foresee problems in that area? Will he make a submission to the benchmarking body on the duties and responsibilities of teachers which are at the back of the recent claim?
The ASTI is going through the procedures and will report formally to the Teachers Conciliation Council on its position in due course. I would not like to speculate on the outcome of its deliberations on the course it should take. The Programme for Prosperity and Fairness provides for the establishment of a benchmarking body to examine public service pay and jobs, that is to say, it will examine existing roles, duties and responsibilities attaching to a particular group or profession. It will be entirely independent in its work. The question of how it will do its work is one for determination by the body itself but it will no doubt involve an initial input by employers and trade unions followed by the necessary research arranged by the body.
Is the Minister represented on the conciliation body? Did the ASTI make a submission on 11 April to which the Minister has not adverted? Is he trying to play cat and mouse on this issue? Will he indicate to the House when it will be possible for decisions under the benchmarking procedure to be made in the next three years?
As regards the first question, I have gone beyond that point. I said it would report back formally to the conciliation council. There has been a response on the other side and it will report back.
On the Minister's side.
On the official side.
That is the Minister.
The conciliation council is a separate mechanism for resolving problems. Both the Department of Finance and the Department of Education and Science are involved in this situation. The process is under way and I will not interfere with it. The conciliation council has already received a submission from the ASTI. It has received a response from the official side and the response of the ASTI to that is awaited. That is the normal procedure.
It is unsatisfactory that a Minister responsible for giving a response is unwilling to tell the Dáil what he is saying in these matters. Is the Minister responsible for the position presented? Why is he refusing to inform the House about his views on the issues raised in the submission?
We will participate in the conciliation council. It is not right to say I am responsible for it.
The Minister does not know what the Department is doing.
The Deputy knows that is not so. If that was the case, then I should talk directly to some of the people involved.
The time for this question has expired. We must proceed to Question No. 19.