Public service pay negotiations
The Minister said the Government’s 1983 pay approach had been published and that correspondence with the ICTU was ongoing. No meeting date had been set; he said he knew of the committee’s request and would arrange a mutually suitable date, while denying that he relied on media reports for information.
asked the Minister for the Public Service if, in view of the recent decisions taken by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Federated Union of Employers on vastly different approaches to pay in 1983, he will outline the Government's attitude to public service pay.
Comment on this
: The Government's approach to pay in 1983 was set out in a statement issued on Thursday, 10 March, a copy of which was put in the Library. I am in correspondence with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions regarding negotiations relating to public employees.
Comment on this
: As a result of the decision yesterday of the Public Services Committee of the ICTU, has a date been set for a meeting with the Minister?
Comment on this
: A date has not been set because newspaper reports this morning were the first indication of the Public Service Committee's having decided to ask for a meeting between a small team from the committee and the Minister to explore the position.
Comment on this
: Did I hear the Minister say that they were not aware of the position until this morning's news announcements? Have relations between the Department of the Public Service and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions deteriorated to the extent that there is not regular communication between them?
Comment on this
: There has been ongoing correspondnece. The committee is a sub-committee of the Public Services Committee and according to the papers this morning they will be seeking a meeting with the Minister, who will in due course arrange a date suitable to both parties.
Comment on this
: Am I right in saying that the only information available to the Minister is through the media in respect of this important issue?
Comment on this
: That is not the case. The Deputy, as a former Minister in this Department, must know that the Minister is not dependent on media statements in relation to pay negotiations.
Comment on this
: Is the Minister saying that until the publication of this morning's newspapers he was not aware of the outcome of yesterday's meeting?
Comment on this
: He was aware but the question asked was whether a date had been fixed for a meeting. I replied that it had not.
Comment on this
: The Minister is a bit confused.