Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

In respect of the protection of homeowners, any required legislation will be brought forward. At this stage, the inter-departmental committee is doing its work and if legislation is required on foot of that work, it will be introduced as a matter of urgency.

I refer to the question of remuneration levels of certain categories of higher public servant. Without opening up the discussion in general terms, a statutory instrument was made in that regard and the decision was made by the Government and me. It was grounded on the fact that were we to have applied the full reduction recommended by the body to the particular group. It would have meant an effective reduction in their remuneration package of an average of 18% for assistant secretaries, well in excess of the reduction accepted by Members of this House and by principal officers at their equivalent grade and well in excess of the amount imposed on Ministers and in excess of the amount imposed on Secretaries General.

It is worth noting also that this group, unlike everyone else in the category, was benchmarked in the report on higher level salaries, which Deputies can examine for the precise arrangements applicable to this category.

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