I want to be factual about this. While the work load put in for a number of years past has been heavy, there have not been enormous delays. There are pressures on the system, however. Following the detailed negotiations, there have been improvements in recent years, including significant improvements in staff numbers, promotional outlets and starting scales. They were put to the union again in June but were rejected for the reasons I have stated. While there are serious difficulties I do not think they are insurmountable. They are being addressed and steps have been taken to provide better office-wide IT systems, organisational structures, library and information facilities, strategic planning, training and development. All these items are in place but even so, staff are being lost in both the legal and technical sectors. As regards the negotiations, I have said that they will have to find imaginative ways to proceed.
I will not disagree with the Deputy. The offer in June was a good one but was resoundingly rejected. I cannot remember the figures but they were not in the ballpark of acceptance. It must be re-examined comprehensively to resolve this matter and I have said as much to the people involved.
The model the Deputy and I created – although I must give the Deputy more credit for it – is now causing problems even in the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. Some people are being offered up to £10,000 more than the point at which they are on the scale. That is good news for them.