Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I strongly support amendment No. 2 because it is fair, just and balanced, but above all it deals with many of the fair play issues we have heard about in recent weeks, particularly as regards the broader issue of the public service.

Judges should pay, full stop. It is important to remind ourselves that this is an insult to public sector workers, particularly the low paid, those that are being hammered. In line with the spirt of the amendment I believe that an exemption for judges should never be an option.

I also want to put on the record my strong support for the public service and public sector workers. I should like to defend those teachers, nurses, fire fighters, bin workers and other public sector employees who have been attacked and vilified in recent weeks. This has caused great hurt and anger to many of them and it has deliberately divided public and private sector workers. This is a disgrace and it is not on. How many of those politicians and right-wing commentators, including Ministers and backbenchers, would last 20 minutes in an accident and emergency unit at midnight on a Saturday? How many of them could work as a teacher in a disadvantaged school where 15% of the pupils come to school hungry and without basic home support? What about a public servant on €30,000 per year with child care costs of €300 per week? Such commentators should come into the real world because those are the real issues people are dealing with.

As regards amendment No. 2, I strongly believe that judges are public servants and that is what they should be. We must constantly watch the constitutional issues, but it is important to realise that these judges are paid by the taxpayers. Many of them are extremely wealthy and well off. How dare anybody come in and try to hammer a lowly-paid public sector worker, yet do nothing about wealthier people in society.

I strongly support amendment No. 2. On the broader issue of the public service, however, I still think it is a disgrace they way they have been treated over the past nine or ten days, particularly by right-wing media commentators and some politicians in this House.

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