Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

For the first time, the Government is addressing the issue of allowances. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, has already made it clear that 180 of these allowances are to be discontinued for the future. He has asked Departments to examine existing allowances and to pursue these under the terms of the Croke Park agreement. This is part of an overall strategy of reducing the public service pay bill, which has already been reduced by €3.1 billion.

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