Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 9 May 2013
Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach
Estimates for Public Services for 2013
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised)
2:50 pm
Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source
I thank the Taoiseach and his officials for attending this afternoon. The main issue I am concerned about is Croke Park II. The Taoiseach confirmed for the previous speaker that the Estimates are prepared on the basis of factoring in the €300 million in cuts for that. My concern is that the Labour Relations Commission talks have been extended by a few days but there is a huge gap to be filled in terms of the position of the public sector trade unions and the position of the Government. Even if he was given an extra two or three months, never mind two or three days, Mr. Kieran Mulvey has his work cut out for him to try to bridge that gap. Given the short period available to him and the gap to be narrowed, does the Taoiseach expect success from the negotiations? The entire budget is predicated on achieving the €300 million in cuts. The Taoiseach might answer that question.
In the event of him not achieving success at the end of those negotiations in the coming days, is it the Taoiseach's intention to bring forward legislation quickly to provide for 7% cuts across public sector pay? What are his intentions in that regard?
Regarding the free general practitioner, GP, care, the Taoiseach confirmed in recent days that while that was due to be rolled out in the first year - we are now into year three - it has been put on ice due to potential legal problems. We are to provide free GP care for people on the long-term illness scheme. Could the Taoiseach confirm how much was allocated for that, and what will happen to the money earmarked for that this year in regard to the long-term illness scheme?
My final question pertains to the property tax, that is, the house tax. Given that this is a new tax and the Government is experiencing some difficulties and some difficulties remain regarding the household charge from last year, has the Government estimated how much the shortfall may be in the collection of the property tax for half a year? If so, how does the Government intend to bridge that gap?
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