Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The second thing that was striking in the opening statement was the clarification of the difference between the amount for allowances in Vote 40 versus the amount in the review. Mr. Tony O'Brien pointed out that the Department of Health consolidated pay scales classify seasonal payments and on-call payments as allowances but that the DPER review did not, or, with the agreement of the DPER, they were not included as allowances. That is different from how we have dealt with every other Department. Perhaps Ms Buckley can clarify this. In the previous meetings I have attended we have included on-call allowances, although I cannot be sure of seasonal payments. Why did DPER consider it suitable not to include on-call allowances?