Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It needs to be more than understanding. We see a great inflexibility between and within the layers. I mentioned health. In the case of the pay request for student nurses, for example, there was a conversation about whether there would be a knock-on effect and whether student gardaí would also need it. We have been hearing the knock-on argument used in relation to those on lower pay who are doing exceptional work in exceptional circumstances. It is not enough to say that. This is the Department of the Taoiseach - the leadership of the country - and there was a reason. This is important.

I will go back to Mr. Fraser's specific role in relation to the pay commission. The pay commission made a decision that the unravelling of FEMPI should begin from the bottom up. That was a policy decision. Does this case not contradict the decision that the restoration of public pay following that difficult period should begin from the bottom up? Does it not contradict that policy?