Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 June 2004
48 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the incidences in which employers are not paying the benchmarking awards agreed under recent social partnership agreements contrary to the terms of those agreements; if so, the actions he intends to take to ensure employers are complying with terms of the agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17948/04]
View answerThe benchmarking increases are being paid by public service employers to public service employees on foot of the agreement encompassed by the national partnership programme — Sustaining Progress — and in accordance with the recommendations of the Public Service Benchmarking Body. Provision for the payment of the increases, which is subject to certain conditions, is contained in section 19 of the Sustaining Progress agreement. This section of the agreement deals with public service pay only.
I am not aware of any public service agency which has not made the payments due to staff entitled to receive the increases where the staff have fully complied with the provisions of Sustaining Progress.
I understand that some private sector companies who are grant aided by the Exchequer have received claims for benchmarking-related increases from their staff. The question as to how these claims should be managed is a matter for the companies themselves.
