Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

Friday's mail brought two items to me, the first of which was the hard copy of this misnamed Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill. The second was my SIPTU centenary membership card celebrating the legacy of James Connolly and Jim Larkin. I was obliged to pinch myself on both accounts. In the first instance, this has to be the worst named item of legislation in the history of the State. Initially I asked myself whether those in government had come to their senses, had taken stock of the irrefutable evidence to the effect that wealthy multinational corporations pay a pittance in tax in this country and had finally decided to take emergency action to deal with this matter. Instead, we find that "Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest" is a fancy term for slashing public sector pay. This must count as one of the most outrageous items of legislation ever introduced in this House.

The reason this Bill has been introduced is because trade union members had the effrontery to exercise their democratic right and reject proposals to worsen their pay and conditions. Rather than acknowledging that democratic vote, this Government, which includes the Labour Party - an organisation which purports to represent workers - has decided to repackage and rebrand the deal to which I refer and force it back in front of the workers to whom I refer. Just in case they might have the audacity to reject the deal again, the Government has introduced this legislation and is stating, "Right lads, we have the gun here and the choices are quite simple: either you shoot yourselves or we will blow your heads off". We absolutely reject the notion that this is an appropriate response in a modern democracy. In actuality, it is completely abhorrent.

This Bill gives the Government the power to reduce the pay of public servants and increase their working hours. This is happening against the background of the loss to date of 30,000 public sector jobs. The legislation makes provision for the axing of even further jobs. It also provides for increased working hours, a pay freeze for up to eight years and lower pay for new entrants. It is somewhat ironic that the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, launched a heroic campaign last year in respect of proposals to take on new nurses on salaries that would only amount to 80% of those of existing nurses. Only eight people applied for the 1,000 positions advertised. Under the current deal, the Government is recommending that new entrants should receive salaries which amount to only 85% of those paid to existing staff. In addition, a suspension of increments will apply in respect of those in receipt of salaries of under €65,000 per annum if their unions do not sign up to the deal. The Bill also eliminates overtime and deals a solid blow to pensioners. The latter is particularly disgusting in view of the fact that pensioners were not given a say in respect of the agreement. The Government is talking about cutting the pensions of those in receipt of pensions of less than €32,500.

The myth that was perpetrated to the effect that the Labour Party, in government, would cushion the blow of Fine Gael has been exploded by the legislation before the House. Divide and rule is now the order of the day. Under this policy, trade unions from certain sectors are arguing that the Government should put the pay of workers in other sectors rather than touching their members. This is the complete antithesis of trade unionism and of the tenet that an injury to one is an injury to all. A solidarity campaign should be launched against the wealthy in society who have got away scot free to date. A struggle by public sector workers would be supported by every citizen as the only way to defend the public interest in this country.

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