Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have nothing more really to add, other than to state it is not as simple as the Deputy is putting forward because there are analogous grades in the Civil Service. There are directors and technical grades which should be included but will not be captured by simply describing assistant secretaries. It is better, I am advised formally because I have checked since we spoke this morning, to do this by way of statutory instrument where there is more scope than simply including assistant secretaries or secretaries general. I will capture it comprehensively in a statutory instrument and will be able to amend it by other statutory instruments. We feel the grades may change in the future and the grades outside of the formal Civil Service and the public service might need to be captured. As we are on the same page with regard to who should be captured, I ask the Deputy to leave it to the most efficient way of doing it which, I am advised and I advise the House, is by way of statutory instrument.

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