Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I accept this. I agree with Mr. Howard. What has happened is what I politically call "Bertie economics", which is rather than addressing basic public sector pay we introduced a range of allowances to meet the legitimate expectations of people doing, in many cases, dangerous and important work.

I was just making that point. However, it is not a defence for continuing some allowances. Colonel O'Keeffe discussed incorporating allowances into pay. I will reiterate the stance taken by the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, and the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, on this matter. Will Colonel O'Keeffe expand on the scope to which he referred for incorporating allowances into pay? I will not ask him to negotiate in public.