Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 November 2016
4. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the contacts his Department has had with trade unions regarding pay restoration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36542/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government strongly supports the Lansdowne Road Agreement as the centrepiece of public service pay policy which provides a negotiated pathway for the phased unwinding of FEMPI pay measures as they apply to existing public servants.
The recent Labour Court's recommendations on Garda pay were explicitly made within the framework provided by the Lansdowne Road Agreement. However, the wider implications of the recommendations in relation to the continued operation of the Lansdowne Road Agreement as it applies to all public servants across the public service are under careful consideration and assessment by the Government.
I met with ICTU representatives on 7 November last to get an early input to those considerations by Government from the Public Services Committee of ICTU in terms of the views of the constituent unions and associations of the impact from their perspective of the Labour Court Recommendations made in relation to the Garda Associations. Senior officials within my Department also met with the Public Services Committee of ICTU on 15th November last where both sides reiterated their commitment to a continued collective approach to public service pay issues. It was also agreed that those issues arising in relation to the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement could be more appropriately dealt with by the parties under the the relevant provisions of the Lansdowne Road Agreement. In this regard both parties agreed to remain in ongoing contact on the issues raised over the coming weeks.
