Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

I will try not to labour this point but we need some clarity on the matter. In a response on Second Stage the Minister of State, Deputy Carey, remarked that the rule of thumb which would apply to this Bill is that those affected would be those who pay the pension levy. Earlier, I cited a groups of teachers who do not pay the pension levy. Typically, these are young people, recently out of college who cannot find permanent, temporary, whole time or any work in the education sector to which a contract applies. These are referred to broadly as substitute teachers and are the life and soul of the education sector. If a given teacher is not in today, a substitute teacher is found by tomorrow. Ostensibly, they are young people trying to get some experience in the sector while also trying to make some money one or two days per week. They do not pay a pension levy. They have no terms of contract and work as substitute teachers.

Will the Minister indicate in respect of this category of worker within the education sector whether he is suggesting to the House that the hourly rate of pay for post-primary teachers will be reduced by 5% and the daily rate of pay for primary teachers will be deduced by 5%? These are very simple questions which require a simple reply. Is the position I have put to Dáil Éireann correct? If so, then the Government is flouting the fundamental principle as espoused by the Minister of State, Deputy Carey, in response to this debate on Second Stage earlier today. He led the House to believe the only group affected is those paying the pension levy. Is what I have suggested actually the case? Will the meagre income of a group of substitute teachers in primary and post-primary education be slashed? That is only one group of workers. An entire group of people in the semi-State sector, at top, bottom and middle levels, will not have any reduction. Will the Minister of State give a definitive answer to that question?

See this speech in context