Dáil debates

Friday, 10 December 2010

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages

 

12:00 pm

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

The Bill made provision that if there was a general deduction in public sector wages because of the State suffering a financial emergency, those deductions should apply to members of the Judiciary. There was a simple amendment that I sought to be included in the Constitution, and it reads as follows:

The remuneration of a judge shall not be reduced during his continuance in office save where it is necessary to address a serious threat to the State's economy, there is a compelling need to stabilise the State's finances and as a consequence it is necessary to effect a reduction in public service remuneration; in such circumstances any reduction in the remuneration of all public servants or in the remuneration of a class of public servants may be applied to effect a comparable reduction in the remuneration of all members of the Judiciary.

I believe that to maintain public confidence in the Judiciary, it is important it is seen to be part of, not an elite set apart from, the community.

If the Government is prepared to address the issue of the minimum wage and to reduce it, I call on it to accept this Private Members' Bill, to allow for its urgent enactment before the general election occurs and to allow a referendum to take place to coincide with the general election to facilitate a reduction in judicial salaries that is commensurate with the reduction in other public service salaries.

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