Charlie O'Connor
Question:249 Mr. O'Connor asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm his commitment to benchmarking; his hopes for the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22350/03]
Written Answers. - Benchmarking Awards.
In the Sustaining Progress agreement, the phasing of the benchmarking increases are set out. These are: 25% with effect from 1 December 2001; 50% of the increases from 1 January 2004 and 25% of the increases from 1 June 2005. However, payment of these increases, with the exception of the 25% from 1 December 2001 and the general round increases, is dependent on meeting the conditions set out in the agreement. These are the absence of industrial action and the achievement of the objectives of the modernisation agenda.
The commitments to co-operation with change and modernisation in Sustaining Progress are more extensive and more specific than in the past. Strong verification arrangements have been put in place, in particular with a greater independent representation. The Government will pay the increases on the basis of the conditions set down in the agreement. It is determined that all of the commitments agreed in Sustaining Progress must be delivered by those to whom they apply. There can be no rolling back on any of these commitments and there will be no renegotiation of them. The agreement sets out the process to be followed for verification of achievement of the conditions necessary for payments to be made under the agreement. If any grades, sectors or organisations fail to agree on specific actions to achieve the commitments or, having so agreed, fail to deliver on them, they should not expect the verification process to decide that pay increases are warranted.
I am confident that over the period of Sustaining Progress the quality of public services will improve and that there will be a period of stable industrial relations with no disruptions to the public service such as we have had in, for example, the health and education sectors in the recent past. If this happens, then the public will get good value for money from the public service pay increases, not just in the short-term but also continuing into the future. However, if the agreement is not adhered to then, quite simply, the money will not be paid. As I have mentioned before, benchmarking as a process holds out the prospect of a better system of pay determination in the public service and replaces the old irrational system based on relativities. As such, it brings benefits to settling public service pay.