Vol. 491 No. 4
67 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Finance when a person (details supplied) in County Dublin, who retired before the commencement date of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work restructuring agreement, can expect to benefit from the application of parity with his former grades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12405/98]
In November 1997, the Government decided that public servants who retired before the commencement dates of restructuring pay deals under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work should benefit from those pay deals on a parity basis subject to a minimum adjustment of 3 per cent in their pensions or 2 per cent in the case of those pensioners who have already received an advance payment of 1 per cent. The Deputy will appreciate that the benefit of this decision can only be applied to pensioners where a restructuring pay deal has been concluded for serving staff. No such deal has yet been concluded in respect of the grade from which the person concerned retired.
The position is that negotiations have been ongoing for some time between my Department and the Federated Union of Government Employees on the restructuring of the relevant grade under the local bargaining clause of the PCW pay agreement. As it has not been possible to reach agreement at negotiation, the matter has now been referred to adjudication as provided for under the terms of the PCW. It is not possible at this stage to indicate when agreement will be reached.
