Statement

Weir welcomes progress on civil service back pay dispute

Posted on: November 30, 2009

 “I welcome the announcements this week that the Northern Ireland Executive has agreed a £150 million proposal to deal with Civil Service back pay, and that this package is being recommended to its members by NIPSA. While ultimately it will be for the civil servants concerned as to whether they accept or reject this package, nevertheless these announcements represent welcome progress. There has been a jaundiced presentation of this issue in the local media, who have tried to present this issue as only being relevant to one portion of our community, but I am acutely aware of how simplistic a portrait this is of the problem, and how many civil servants in North Down are deeply effected by this issue. 

In recent days there has been much skepticism of the willingness of politicians to resolve this issue, and I understand the frustration of many people, who have simply being waiting for too many years for what they are rightly owed, but this is a complex subject which has required detailed negotiations. For too many years this issue was brushed under the carpet by the first assembly and my direct rule. For the last 2 years the Assembly has been playing catch up for past failures and neglect. While it is long overdue, at last there is light at the end of the tunnel for this problem.”