Section 19 of Sustaining Progress & The Social Partnership Agreement 2003 - 2005 outlines the key features of the agreement on Public Service Pay under a number of headings: Modernisation & Flexibility; Stable Industrial Relations Climate; NIB (National Implementation Body) and the Public Service; Code of Practice and Disputes Procedures; Public Service Monitoring Group; & Public Service Pay; Pay Increases; Payment of Benchmarking Increases & Benchmarking.
The agreement provides for Phase 1 (25% of the Benchmarking increases) to be paid on ratification of the agreement with effect from December 2001. This was paid to Shannon Development Staff in September 2003.
The Public Service Benchmarking Body recommended that the payment of the final two phases of the benchmarking (i.e. 50% of the increases from 1st January 2004 and the final 25% on the 1st June 2005) increases would be dependent on real and verifiable outputs from modernisation and flexibility changes and satisfactory implementation of the agenda for modernisation, maintenance of stable industrial relations and absence of industrial action in respect of any matters covered by the agreement. Payment is totally dependent on verification of satisfactory achievement of these provisions as set out in Section 26 of the Agreement which states;
26.1 Paragraph 19.22 of the Public Service Pay Agreement provides that payment of the final two phases of the benchmarking increases and the general round increases is dependent, in the case of each sector, organisation and grade, on verification of satisfactory achievement of the provisions on co-operation with flexibility and ongoing change; satisfactory implementation of the agenda for modernisation set out in Section 20 to 26, and the maintenance of stable industrial relations and absence of industrial action in respect of any matters covered by this agreement.
In addition the agreement outlines that Performance Verification Groups (PVGs) will be established for each sector not later than one month after ratification of the agreement in order to monitor progress. These PVG's have now been put in place.
The aim of the modernisation process is to improve the delivery of public services and improve the public service itself. There are a number of general themes. These include increased flexibility by staff in how the service is delivered and the introduction or further development of performance management in all sectors. The themes relevant to the Company therefore include:
Linked to these changes, the agreement recognises the need to achieve better value for public spending which was emphasised in the latest NESC strategy report. Improvements will be made, for example, to financial and management information systems. Expenditure evaluation systems and mechanisms will be introduced to ensure accountability for performance outcomes to the government and the Oireachtas. There is also a strong emphasis on improved Customer Service. Building on previous moves in this area, all public service organisations over the course of the agreement will be required to commit themselves to service standards for their customers. Performance will be evaluated and the results published in annual reports or other appropriate formats.
For your information please find attached the Company's Sustaining Progress Modernisation Programme Action Plan which has been approved by the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment. The Action Plan has been completed using a template designed by the Department. The template outlines the key modernisation agenda items.
An internal Partnership Committee consisting of Staff Representative, Staff members & Management has been set up in addition to the external PVG's. This Committee will monitor progress on the key modernisation agenda items highlighted in the Action Plan. A Progress Report will be submitted to the Department in October 2003.
It is the Company's intention to ensure that real and verifiable changes are implemented in Shannon Development under Phases 2 & 3 of Benchmarking.
David Deighan
Human Resources Manager