Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and Mr. Moloney for coming before the committee. It is very helpful to have a Secretary General before the committee. Mr. Moloney will be aware that on 27 July last, a decision was made by Cabinet to the effect that Ministers would take a 10% reduction in their salaries. In fairness, that was on foot of a memorandum brought before Cabinet by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The reason for that reduction was because members of the Cabinet recognised the very difficult financial circumstances faced by the country at the time with so many people in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment. Have Secretaries General ever discussed making a similar contribution and accepting a similar reduction in their salaries in view of the difficult financial circumstances faced by the State?