Skip to main content
Normal View

Public Sector Pay

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 June 2021

Thursday, 17 June 2021

Questions (256)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

256. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which FEMPI restoration has been completed across all income brackets throughout the Public Sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32770/21]

View answer

Written answers

The process of unwinding the Financial Emergency (FEMPI) legislation commenced under the Lansdowne Road Agreement 2016 – 2018, with the remainder of the process largely completed under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 – 2020 (PSSA). This will continue under ‘Building Momentum: A New Public Service Agreement, 2021 – 2022’.

At this point, salary rates up to approx. €70,000, which accounts for over 90% of the public service, have been fully restored.

Further measures provided for in the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 that are needed to complete the unwinding of FEMPI can be found at Section 19 and Section 20 of the Act. Section 19 of the Act provides for the completion of FEMPI restoration for public servants earning annualised basic salaries of not more than €150,000 by no later than 1 July 2021. Section 20 of the Act provides for the completion of FEMPI restoration for public servants earning annualised basic salaries of more than €150,000 by no later than 1 July 2022.

Each year, under the terms of the FEMPI Act 2013, I am obliged to carry out an annual review of the operation, effectiveness and impact of the FEMPI Acts, having regard to the overall economic conditions in the State and national competitiveness. In this annual review, I am also to consider whether or not any of the provision of the relevant Acts continue to be necessary having regard to the purposes of those Acts, the revenues of the State and State commitments in respect of public service pay and pensions.

The 2020 annual review, a written report of which was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on the 23rd June 2020, recommended the continuation of the unwinding of the FEMPI measures in line with the provisions enacted in the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017. The 2021 annual review will be published by the end of the month and will provide the Deputy with additional detail.

Top
Share