Limerick East): I have been in contact with the Office of the Attorney General in relation to the European Court of Justice judgment referred to by the Deputy and I am satisfied that the judgment has no implications for the pay claim currently being pursued by IMPACT, on behalf of the profession. While negotiations to-date have not been conclusive, the management side remains available to resume, under the auspices of the local government staff negotiations board, with a view to negotiating a mutually acceptable outcome within Clause 2 (iii) A-Annex 1 of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work.
The case which was ruled upon by the European Court of Justice was referred by the UK Court of Appeal from a decision of the UK Employment Appeals Tribunal and to the best of my knowledge the actual ruling has yet to be implemented in the UK.
I am satisfied that my Department is not in contravention of Article 119 of the Treaty of Rome, relating to equal pay for equal work for men and women or of the EU Directive 57/117/EC on Equal Pay.