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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Nov 2003

Vol. 575 No. 5

Written Answers. - Irish Prison Service.

John Gormley

Ceist:

166 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will refer the dispute on overtime in the prison service to the Labour Relations Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28755/03]

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 294 of 25 November 2003 on this matter.

The Deputy will be aware of my position, which is shared by the Government, that the proposal put forward by the Prison Officers' Association, POA, for negotiation is essentially a claim for an improvement in pay. As such claims are precluded under Sustaining Progress, I am not prepared to authorise the prison service to enter talks in any forum where a proposal involving such an increase would be part of the discussions.

The POA proposal completely ignores the key issue which has been at the heart of discussions to date, that is, the elimination of overtime working. The introduction of an annualised hours system of attendance, which both sides had agreed more than a year ago should be the main focus of further discussion, is also ignored in the POA proposal. Their document actually envisages leaving the prison overtime system intact or replacing it through the recruitment of up to 1,200 extra staff. Both propositions are unacceptable and totally unrealistic. The Deputy will appreciate that, in this context, the suggestion that the Irish Prison Service enter into discussions under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission without preconditions is not a realistic proposition.

I have discussed with the POA, at a meeting on 20 November, my position regarding a resumption of negotiations. I found the meeting to be useful and I am still hopeful that progress may yet be made. However, in the absence of an agreed way forward before 1 January 2004, the Government decision of 11 November on alternative cost reduction measures will be progressively implemented.

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