Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I did give you notice, a Cheann Comhairle. I will write to you specifically about it and I will raise it again if I do not get satisfaction.

I also want to raise the matter of SI No. 590/ 2009, Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009 (Commencement) Order 2009, which is listed in today's Order Paper. Will the Tánaiste advise us if this will be applied retrospectively? While it appears on the Order Paper today it came into force on 21 January 2010, as appears to be the case in respect of public sector pay cuts. Does the statutory instrument include a mechanism which allowed the Minister for Finance to exempt assistant secretaries from the full force of the pay cuts and, if so, under which mechanism may we challenge it?

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