Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 2:

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:

"--- commends the Government for its actions to restore the public finances and for its difficult but necessary measures to reduce the public service pay bill;

--- notes that public servants have made a substantial contribution towards the necessary reduction in public expenditure, including through the pay reductions applied under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009;

--- commends the Government for applying substantially larger reductions to the remuneration of higher paid public servants and notes that all reductions are proportionate;

--- notes the decision of the Minister for Finance to take into account the reduction in the total remuneration package, including the performance related pay, in considering the appropriate reduction to apply to Assistant Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries and related grades in the civil and public service;

--- notes the cumulative impact of the reductions in public service pay over the last 18 months ranging from one third of the net pay of Secretaries General; a quarter of net pay of Assistant Secretaries; to less than 8% of net pay in the case of a clerical officer;

--- further notes that the Review Body on Higher Remuneration pointed out in its report that unique among the grades it examined, the pay level of Assistant Secretaries was lower than or broadly similar to their counterparts in five other European countries;

--- notes the intention of the Government to ask the McLoughlin Local Government Efficiency Review Group to examine the senior management structures in the local authorities and a similar review to be carried out by the HSE;

--- commends the quality of the work of public servants in these difficult times; and

--- agrees with the view of the Government that it is necessary to engage with its employees on badly needed reform that will deliver the necessary productivity measures and savings in the costs of the public service."

There has been a great deal of populism and begrudgery about the debate that has taken place on this entire controversy.

See this speech in context