Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Minister to hold his horses. A number of issues have to be factored in if we are to get to the bottom of the question of allowances. One of the core considerations has to be pay equity in the system. A small group of individuals enjoy very high incomes, whereas the mass of public and civil servants are on modest wages. When one makes a calculation on premium payments and allowances, one must not only look to the public purse and the overall pay bill but also to the sustainability and spending power of workers in these categories. There are no prizes for driving those who are struggling to get by into poverty. I ask the Minister why he has not taken that into account in his analysis and ask him to do so when he deliberates further.

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