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

At present we have Secretaries General working across government in a number of these tiers. I will not ask an independent review panel to examine figures and make recommendations to me on pay levels. This is not what this is about; what it is about is examining the process. It can make recommendations. The Deputy and his colleagues have already made a recommendation that we would set up a higher remuneration review body. I am not clear whether the Deputy's intention is that such a body would decide on pay and, therefore, that the legislation underpinning the power I or future incumbents in this role have to make a decision would be removed and given to an independent body outside of the Oireachtas. The Deputy might wish to provide clarity on this. Is he saying that such a body would make a recommendation to the Minister? Under the law it is the Minister who makes the decision.