Government wants to use pay deal to drive digital transformation

Résumé détaillé

T he Government believes the new public service pay agreement will facilitate its plans to drive greater adoption of new technology and artificial intelligence (AI) across the Sta…

The Government believes the new public service pay agreement will facilitate its plans to drive greater adoption of new technology and artificial intelligence (AI) across the State sector.

In return for the €5 billion accord, Ministers also want to use provisions in the document to introduce new rostering arrangements – across a seven-day week in some cases – where they believe this is needed to meet the demands of the public.

The deal also involves co-operation by trade unions with redeployment arrangements for staff.

While the text in the deal may seem a little vague on the detail of what the Government side is seeking, it maintains that individual reform plans will be drawn up for the different parts of the public service: the Civil Service, health, local authorities, justice and the Defence Forces.

The agreement also maintains that unions and management will co-operate with new arrangements aimed at the speedy resolution of disputes.

Where agreement cannot be reached, or a dispute arises, resolution will be pursued within the “industrial peace provisions” of the agreement, starting with a six-week period of initial bilateral engagement.

The agreement states that the parties agree to work together constructively and in consultation to drive modernisation, promote innovation and ensure the effective use of technology as a key enabler of change.

The deal also agrees on enhancing customer support for digitalised services, including in-person and phone services.

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers told The Irish Times on Wednesday that the Government had “really ambitious plans to drive digital transformation right across the public service”.

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