Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It is for us in public office to dispel that notion where it is not well grounded. Pay is not determined by those who hold the grade. Pay levels are recommended by an outside body. If someone says to a Deputy it is done another way, it is our job to say that is not the case even though that person might not like the outcome and he or she might have views on this issue. This is not an arbitrary system because that would not help morale in any way. It is difficult enough for people to take pay cuts but the notion that it is a total ready up is not the situation.

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