Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Regarding the court case yesterday, an all-party committee is considering in what way matters can be advanced beyond the legislation we were obliged to enact following the C case in 2006, which permitted the defence of honest mistake as to age in cases where the essence of the defence related to the age of the person. It is important to see if the committee can advance the work it is doing and draw consensus around the issue. We have heard that issues must be carefully deliberated upon.

On the other matter raised by the Deputy, the pay talks formally begin this morning, with sessions to take place this afternoon, at which many issues will be raised. The pay review body is part of the established industrial relations machinery of the country. The Labour Court and Public Service Arbitration Board have been in existence for more than 40 years.

As regards the specific recommendations made for politicians, we deferred that pay rise for over a year and decided not to pay the increase over a further three-year period. That was a Government decision, taken some time ago.

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