Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My question asked what steps the Taoiseach has taken to deal with the issue of allowances for staff in his Department. My concern relates to the disparity of pay levels between lower-grade civil servants and those at the top, because that gap has grown wider. Many of the issues that have been under public discussion with regard to public servants at lower and middle income levels concern allowances that were given as alternatives to pay increases, which should be considered as core pay. Under Fianna Fáil, payment for Secretaries General rose from €100,000 in 2000 up to €285,000, while lower-paid workers had to rely on these allowances. Clearly, if indefensible allowances are being paid, these should be withdrawn, but allowances paid to lower and middle-income public servants are part of their core pay.

We have a difficulty as we try to work our way through this recession. One element, the upper echelons, have a huge amount of money, but those at other levels are paid very meagre incomes. Senior civil servants, public hospital consultants, special advisers and Ministers are all paid significantly more than their EU counterparts. The Taoiseach is paid more than the French President or the Spanish Prime Minister. I have two suggestions. First, if we are going to start cutting pay, we should start at the top and show an example to the citizens. The Taoiseach may have provided a breakdown of the allowances paid in his Department, but I apologise if I did not pick up on it. How do we get that breakdown of the allowances being paid in the Department and the salary scales of those in receipt of them? What steps has the Taoiseach taken or will he take on the issue of allowances for people in his Department?

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