Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2017
830. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the measures his Department plans to take to address the disparity in pay for new recruits whose weekly pay is under €300; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9621/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraRates of remuneration and conditions of employment in the Irish public sector have traditionally been set by reference to relative levels of pay across the various sectors of the Irish public sector.
You will be aware that the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts of 2009-2015 and the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2018 (Lansdowne Road Agreement) currently define the pay policy for public servants. I can advise that PDFORRA (Representative Association) have yet to ballot their members in relation to the terms of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2018 (Lansdowne Road Agreement). I understand that PDFORRA raised a number of issues arising from the Haddington Road Agreement, on which it sought clarification in advance of finalising their position on entering into the Lansdowne Road Agreement. These are primarily issues of interpretation and technical issues on the savings to be achieved under the Haddington Road Agreement rather than substantive issues of principle.
PDFORRA members are complying fully with all of their obligations under the public service pay agreements and the commitments they entered into in those agreements. PDFORRA has not repudiated the LRA.
Officials from the Department of Defence, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and PDFORRA have been actively working through these issues in a positive and collaborative process within the C&A Scheme over recent months. The Workplace Relations Commission facilitated discussions between representatives of the parties on 17 February, 2017. The Commission noted that the parties agreed the parameters under which they will conclude their arrangements on pay, in tandem in the Public Sector discussions. These Public Sector discussions will take place in the context of the report of the Public Service Pay Commission and the negotiations on a successor to the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
The Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC), announced by my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, has been tasked with providing objective analysis and advice on the most appropriate pay levels for the public service, including the Defence Forces. The Public Service Pay Commission is expected to report in Q2, 2017. Once this report is available, the Government intends to initiate negotiations on a successor to the Lansdowne Road Agreement ahead of Budget 2018 considerations. Future remuneration of Defence Forces personnel, including PDFORRA members, will be dealt with within this process.
