Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It would be useful if the witnesses could establish for us their own view on what constitutes core pay. We have been exploring this issue for the past few weeks and much has been said about a small amount of money being involved. I am a great believer in looking at the wood, not a particular tree. There is a broader context, but that is not a matter for us to consider today. Is the definition of core pay dictated by the vintage of an allowance and the percentage in terms of overall pay for an individual public or civil servant? Clearly, the Labour Court has defined it in the context of some of the allowances paid during the years. Are the witnesses in a position to define it as best they can?