Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022
80. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has considered revisiting the current public sector pay agreement before the expiration at the end of 2022 considering the real difficulties faced by low and middle income workers in the view of inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11497/22]
View answer101. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will bring forward the pay talks with public sector trade unions given the cost of living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11504/22]
View answer112. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure that the upcoming pay talks with public sector unions will be able to deliver pay rises that will keep pace with inflation and the cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11503/22]
View answer116. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to open negotiations on a new public service pay agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11278/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 80, 101, 112 and 116 together.
Public service pay has been governed by a system of collective agreements since the Croke Park Agreement was negotiated in 2010. These collective agreements have helped to ensure that public pay is managed in a sustainable, affordable and orderly manner. These agreements have also enabled significant reform of public services and changes to work practices.
The current public service agreement is Building Momentum - A New Public Service Agreement 2021-2022. This Agreement is weighted towards those at lower incomes with headline increases of approximately 5% for the lowest paid public servants. These groups will also benefit more from other measures in the Agreement including the overtime rates and premia payment adjustments.
The Agreement provides for the following pay adjustments:
- A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, on 1 October 2021.
- The equivalent of a 1% increase in annualised basic salaries to be used as a Sectoral Bargaining Fund, in accordance with Chapter 2 of the Agreement, on 1 February 2022.
- A general round increase in annualised basic salaries for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater on, 1 October 2022.
- The Government is determined to ensure the current pay agreement is honoured in full. In this regard, an independent body was established to examine the additional hours worked by public servants under the Haddington Road Agreement. The full report of the Body has now been submitted and is under consideration. I expect to bring the report to Government in the coming weeks.
As the Deputies will be aware, Building Momentum is a two year Agreement, which is due to expire at the end of 2022. Accordingly, Government and public service staff representatives will be due to enter into discussions on the potential for a successor agreement later this year. I expect that the inflation and cost of living issues to which the Deputies have referred will feature in those discussions.
