The Union has been provided with a copy of a letter sent by the Director of Human Resources, Janine Hearn, to members in relation to the overpayment dispute of the officership allowance.

The Union considers the letter to be misleading in some respects. The Employment Relations Authority decision makes orders only in relation to six named employees. No order has been made in relation to any other member.

The Authority decision has been challenged in the Employment Court. There is no obligation on any member arising from the Authority’s determination to pay any money at this stage (apart from the six named). Even in relation to the six named, the Authority required that the employer make some attempt to resolve this matter with each of them prior to requiring payment.

The Union will now meet with the employer in relation to the six members in accordance with the Authority’s suggestion.

The Union has accepted that the officership payment included an overpayment, but whether any money is payable depends on whether the other parts of the composite sum paid to members was correct. We have no way of knowing this at this stage. If adequate information is provided on that issue and the Union can be satisfied that the money is repayable, the Union will recommend repayment.