Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 27 February 2014

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform

Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage

10:40 am

Photo of Peter MathewsPeter Mathews (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The amendment tabled by Deputy Sean Fleming is to correct this position, which is why it is very good. It is fair and transparent. Even the Minister for Health talks about money following the patient. Money should follow the Member of Parliament to do his or her work; it is very simple. I want the Minister to apply the Government’s own principles and my colleagues would agree.

A snapshot was mentioned, but we do not live in snapshots. Circumstances in work and life evolve and there is a concept called fairness that should obtain all the way through life. If the Minister wants to have a snapshot dating from 9 March and stick everybody in cement from that point, we will have a very suspect environment in which to live. We are in a breathing, living society and fairness is what should obtain. This is simple-English stuff.

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