Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:74 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance the progress made to date by the Public Service Benchmarking Body; when he expects that the body will begin to report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25365/01]
Other Questions. - Public Service Benchmarking Body.
The Public Service Benchmarking Body was established in July 2000 and was asked to report by 30 June 2002. It was agreed by the parties that there would be four phases: Phase 1 – written submission by the parties; Phase 2 – research by the body itself; Phase 3 – oral hearings and any further written submissions based on the research and Phase 4 – finalisation of the report by the body. Written submissions were made by the parties earlier this year. The body has now carried out its research of the public service grades being examined. The research in the private sector is taking place. Oral hearings for each group, where both sides will have the opportunity to put arguments in support of their case, began earlier this month and will continue into December. It is expected the body will then begin drafting its report, after the oral hearings are complete, with a view to finalising it by the end of June 2002. There will not be an interim report, nor will the body issue recommendations on individual groups or grades on a rolling basis. Rather, there will be one report at the end of the process. This was agreed by both the unions and the employers and is contained in the body's terms of reference.
Has there been consultation with the trade unions in relation to the job evaluation scheme and are they satisfied that like is being compared with like, in the scheme which is being used to make comparisons?
I am not interfering in the work of the benchmarking body, the whole purpose of which, as agreed after considerable negotiation, was to operate independently. I have outlined the four phases and it is now at the oral hearing phase. Any difficulties which may have arisen are a matter between the body and the relevant unions or staff associations.
The Minister told the House, in June, I believe, that he still expected the report to be published in time – in June of next year. Is that still his expectation?
It is what was agreed at the outset, after much negotiation. In the review of the PPF last year, June 2002 was again agreed upon. It is a very difficult timetable, involving a great deal of work for the members of the body, the secretariat, trade unions and staff associations. However, I am assured that it is the firm intention of the benchmarking body to report by the end of June 2002.