Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I look forward to a detailed discussion of these issues on Committee Stage. I hope to introduce Second Stage next week and to get through it quickly so we can have a more protracted Committee Stage debate to tease out the details. The only provision in the published Bill that would impact on already retired public servants is the possibility of changing from a linkage to the salary associated with the last post held to a linkage with the consumer price index, CPI. It is important to note that the new arrangement will act as a valve in that payment can be increased in accordance with increases in the CPI but cannot be decreased if the CPI goes down. It is an enabling provision which cannot be operated until at least the completion of the Croke Park agreement in 2014. There is merit in what the Deputy proposes and I will consider it between now and Committee Stage.

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