Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I hope she is hearing me okay. I welcome the report. I am still working my way through it because it is a lengthy report which gives a lot of food for thought. I have looked at the 14 recommendations that were provided by the committee. Those recommendations will be given serious consideration. I have had an initial discussion about the recommendations with my officials. There are some stand-out recommendations, in particular the recommendation to establish a body similar to the review body for positions with a higher remuneration in the public sector. The report suggests that body is established immediately to review the remuneration of senior posts in the Civil Service and public service and develop processes and procedures governing appointments to senior posts on interim and permanent bases. I will give consideration to that.

I will make the point that until July of next year, the pay level for senior posts will be generally governed by the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, legislation. The final unwinding of the long tail of FEMPI will occur on 1 July 2022, in accordance with the legislation. Once we get beyond that point, the question arises as to what is the appropriate way in which pay issues can be examined at senior levels. At the moment, as the Deputy knows, and in line with the legislation in place, it is a power that falls to the Minister. We must consider that if we reconstitute a body similar to the one that was stood down in 2009, we may not always like its recommendations. It may come forward with recommendations in respect of pay levels that far exceed what the committee or I, as Minister, might be willing to entertain. We must consider that point.

As Minister, I am accountable. I have attended before the committee in respect of the matter that was the subject of the report. I am before the committee again today. It is important that we have that level of accountability. We would need to consider carefully exactly what the terms of reference and the role for such a body would be. Would that role be to make recommendations and it would then fall to the Minister to make a decision on individual pay levels? That requires careful consideration. I am giving a commitment to the committee that I will consider the report and I am happy to engage with the committee on that particular recommendation and the others, which I am happy to answer questions about.

The Deputy referred to three recommendations. To which three, in particular, was she referring?