Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Paragraph 1.15 of the public service agreement 2012-2014, the prior agreement, reaffirmed that priority would be given to public servants with pay rates at €35,000 or less when reviewing the re-instatement of pay levels. The Minister referred to the fiscal ruination of the State; many low-paid public and civil servants are facing fiscal ruination in their own homes.

A woman from Dublin who is a clerical officer wrote to me recently. Her weekly wage, before tax and deductions, is €445.71. She is being crippled. A number of the additional work requirements such as additional hours to be worked under the Haddington Road agreement have placed an additional burden of child care costs on this woman. She finds herself in an unsustainable position. Along with many other low-paid workers in the public service and the Civil Service, she finds herself figuring that she would be better off to stay at home and not to work. I ask the Minister to answer the question whether he plans to re-instate the wage levels of these low-paid workers in the public service and Civil Service. Has the Government discussed this matter? Does the Minister intend to honour the commitment made to these workers?

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