Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The largest category of allowances form a significant element of the overall taxable and pensionable remuneration of staff, especially in the groups of which we are aware, including gardaí, firefighters, prison officers, the Defence Forces and teachers. It is neither practical nor reasonable to take away unilaterally a big chunk of somebody's income. That is the long and short of it. These are by far the biggest volume of allowances in money terms.

The second category is made up of payments which do not form a significant element of remuneration but are important to people on call or where they work unsocial hours. It also applies in the Deputy's example. We need to examine each sector separately, and there is now a review of An Garda Síochána. Maybe the particular role mentioned should be a defined office with a pay grade appropriate which is above the normal office. It is a matter for each sector to consider. As I believe the Deputy discovered in the Committee of Public Accounts debate, these are quite complex issues.

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