Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On the restoration of pay cuts, I have deliberately structured the Bill I published today as a Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill. By definition, it is anchored in the financial crisis. If one examines its latter sections, one will find I have amended it to include an annual report to the House on the continued existence of the financial emergency conditions. It is part of an emergency set of measures to bring us through the crisis. I hope pay levels will be restored over time, but it will take a long time, in order that we can have sustainable, affordable and efficient public services and taxation in the State in the future.

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