asked the Minister for Finance if the Government have yet come to a decision on the award of the Civil Service tribunal; and, if so, the nature of the decision.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal.
asked the Minister for Finance if he is now in a position to announce the terms of the report of the Civil Service Arbitration Board on the staff's claim for increased pay in consequence of the increase in the cost of living, and the Government's intentions in respect of the report.
With the permission of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 28 together and also to avail myself of the opportunity of making a statement in this matter.
The report of the Civil Service Arbitration Board was presented to-day to Dáil Éireann.
To give effect to the board's recommendation, in so far as it is applicable to the current financial year, which ends on the 31st of next month, would cost, in respect of the Civil Service alone, an additional £417,000 over and above the cost of the last general increase in Civil Service remuneration, which gave rise to an annual increased charge for the Civil Service of £1,395,000. The funds to meet thisaward were voted by Dáil Éireann on the 13th December, 1951.
In a full year the additional sum to be provided for out of taxation would be £1,000,000, which would be for the Civil Service alone. If, however, the general scheme of the award were to be applied to the personnel of other public services or to other classes which are paid in whole or in part by the State, the total additional cost per annum to the taxpayer would be about £2,400,000.
According to the best advice available to me a deficit of significant size is likely to be shown by the Budget for the financial year which closes on the 31st March next. Therefore, if immediate effect were to be given to the recommendations of the Civil Service Arbitration Board, it would be the duty of the Government to bring in a Supplementary Budget imposing additional taxation.
The Government has decided that in present conditions it would not be justified in taking such a step. Therefore, in accordance with Article 20 (2) (c) of Part IV of the Scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration for the Civil Service, which provides that should the Government "consider that it would not be possible, without imposing taxation, to give full effect to the findings within the current financial year", it hereby signifies that it proposes "to defer its final decision on the Report until the Budget for the next following year is being framed." Accordingly, no payment will be made in or for the current year on foot of the increases recommended by the Civil Service Arbitration Board. When the Budget for the forthcoming year is being prepared, further consideration will be given to the board's recommendations and the result of such reconsideration will be announced in the Budget statement.
Having regard to the fact that private employers in industry and bodies such as the Turf Board and the E.S.B. have already granted increases to their employees, does the Minister think it fair and equitable — seeing that he was a party to the arbitration procedure — to withholdincreases in pay for a further period from lowly-paid officers in the State service?
I have explained to the House the circumstances under which the Government have taken that decision and I have nothing to add.
The Minister's reply is a disgrace.
Question No. 29.