Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I wish to ask the Taoiseach about two matters. First, I thank the Taoiseach for writing to me arising from a question I asked him on 20 January 2010, regarding the application of the pay cuts. The Ceann Comhairle will recall I asked the Taoiseach about a circular which was issued by the HSE to the various agencies under its remit and in which the HSE was effectively directing the various agencies to cut the pay of the staff of those agencies. The Taoiseach has replied saying that the circular was issued incorrectly and I accept this. However, he goes on to make it clear that although the circular was issued incorrectly, in effect, the HSE expects these agencies to cut the pay. This is what the reply translates as, even though it is expressed in roundabout language in which he states that providers take appropriate measures to ensure they continue to provide the same level of service in 2010 as previously, notwithstanding the reductions in their funding and that it is the responsibility of each individual employer to decide exactly what mix of actions should be taken, to inform its employees and trade unions as necessary and to manage the human resources and industrial relations implications of its decisions.

All this comes down to, as I understand it, is that while there is no circular, the staff pay of the various agencies will still need to be cut. Is this the Government policy because my point at the time was that the cut in pay in the public sector was now being used by Government to drive down pay in the voluntary sector?

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