Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I refer to the people who were able to get to the Government. This situation proves who has the power in this State. It lies with the 655 civil servants who were able to say to the Government and Ministers that they would not take a pay cut, while every other worker in the State, in both the public and private sectors, had to take a pay cut. This is wrong. Certain people in local authorities earn a very small income. There are some who bring home €450 or €500 per week and such people must pay levies and take a reduction in their pay. However, senior civil servants who are making a fortune and whose jobs are protected do not have to pay it. It is wrong and it must be reversed.

We must all take some of the pain and no one should be exempt. Great anger is being experienced by people on low pay and in the public service at the fact that these 655 people could influence the Department of Finance and the Minister to get their way. For all my life it has been the case that a bonus is not a salary; it is a bonus. One get rewarded for the work one carries out.

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