Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

It is very hard to follow that, but I am very pleased to have the opportunity to contribute. I thank Deputy Richard Bruton for giving all of us the opportunity to discuss the matter on behalf of the thousands of low paid public servants who are very annoyed.

An announcement was made prior to Christmas that affected many of the people in charge at county manager level, at director of services level in the county councils and in the HSE. The annoyance of a substantial number of people on low wages who were asked to take a cut is palpable. Such people were out gritting the roads during the frost, filling the pot holes after the torrential rain and driving ambulances across those roads, bringing sick and injured people to our hospitals. They were annoyed and frustrated but they had come to the realisation that the economy was in dire straits. They were aware the Government was very short of money. After a long period of convincing, such people came around to the viewpoint that they should take the cut to ensure fairness. On the night of the budget, many such people were shocked to hear of the cuts to be put in place. However, such cuts were accepted in the hope that it would straighten out the economy and these people were prepared to do their bit, the same as everyone else given that people in the private sector have lost their jobs across the board.

People had come to accept the change but, lo and behold, some days before Christmas this announcement was made. I do not know how it came about or from where the influence was brought to bear, but people on the upper salary scales in the Civil Service did not get the same cut as the person who fills the pot holes in my constituency. It is unfair and unjust. It is incredible that a Government that spent up to a year preaching to us about the need for everyone to take cuts and convinced people of the need for such cuts would do such a thing to all those people.

I have never in my life, but particularly in recent weeks, come across so many people who are hard pressed for cash. They include public servants, particularly the low paid. Only last week a lady came to my constituency office whose husband had lost his job in the private sector. She had a public service job paying €25,000 per year and had a mortgage of almost €2,500 per month. Her position is totally unsustainable. She told me she was going to hand back the keys of her house in which she has lived for the past number of years. She was a low-paid public servant and as she walked out of my office she turned and said, "Who in the name of God influenced the Government such that it would allow my manager not to get the same cut as me?" I could not answer her.

Was influence used to reverse the decision on the pay cuts? I am extremely concerned that such influence got the better of the Minister. We should not have allowed this to happen. As we face more difficult budgets in the years ahead, we must bring the people with us. Unfortunately, their trust is now broken. We should not have allowed this to happen.

A bonus is not a salary, as was said time and again. There is no justification for doing what was done. I urge every Member to stand up because it is not too late to change the decision. The Fine Gael proposal, namely, not to cut the pay of low-paid civil servants, represents an alternative. Deputy Richard Bruton proposed in his alternative budget that the pay of lower-paid public servants not be cut. We should accept this because the anger among lower-paid public servants is unbelievable. If we, as their representatives, are to fight for what they want, it is in this Chamber that we must do so. Everybody should work together in this regard. Trust is broken and when one breaks the trust of the public servants on whom cuts have been inflicted, one will not receive co-operation. I urge everyone in this House to reconsider and change the decision and do what is fair on behalf of the taxpayer, including lower-paid taxpayers.

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