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Public Sector Pay

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Ceisteanna (591)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

591. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress to date in the context of FEMPI; the extent to which issues remain outstanding in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20841/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The process of unwinding the Financial Emergency (FEMPI) legislation commenced under the Lansdowne Road Agreement 2016 – 2018, with the remainder of the process largely completed under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 – 2020 (PSSA). This will continue under ‘Building Momentum: A New Public Service Agreement, 2021 – 2022’.

At this point, salary rates up to approx. €70,000, which accounts for over 90% of the public service, have been fully restored.

Further measures provided for in the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 that are needed to complete the unwinding of FEMPI will continue over the period 2021-2023. These measures can be found at Section 19 and Section 20 of the Act.

Each year, under the terms of the FEMPI Act 2013, I am obliged to carry out an annual review of the operation, effectiveness and impact of the FEMPI Acts, having regard to the overall economic conditions in the State and national competitiveness. In this annual review, I am also to consider whether or not any of the provision of the relevant Acts continue to be necessary having regard to the purposes of those Acts, the revenues of the State and State commitments in respect of public service pay and pensions.

The 2020 annual review, a written report of which was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on the 23rd June 2020, recommended the continuation of the unwinding of the FEMPI measures in line with the provisions enacted in the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017. Work is now underway in my Department on preparing the 2021 annual review, which will be published in the coming months, in line with the legislation.

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