Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

People are facing pay cuts and higher taxes. People on training schemes are not paid well, nor are most FÁS workers on the ground. In this context, is the remuneration package of the director general of FÁS, which is worth more than €200,000, not excessive and inappropriate? Should the Minister of State not announce that the chief executive's salary will be capped at, for example, the level of a Minister of State? This should be made clear in order that people interviewing for the job will not be under the illusion that they might get a highly paid job presiding over an agency staffed by people who are not particularly well paid and trainees who are paid appallingly.

See this speech in context