Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It must be borne in mind that the FEMPI legislation was designed to protect our capacity as a country to strike the necessary balance between the demand for new public services and the restoration of public pay over time and in an orderly manner. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has made it clear that the cost of reversing the FEMPI legislation in full would be in the order of €1.4 billion. That is far in excess of what will be available in the forthcoming budget - indeed almost two budgets - to achieve the ambitions Deputies on all sides advance in housing provision, the health service and many other areas.

The FEMPI legislation and the Lansdowne Road agreement is an orderly way in which people are having their pay restored and that is important.

It is the business committee of the House that decides the order and it is up to the business committee, which is not controlled by Government, to decide what is debated in the House. That has to be borne in mind.

I answered Deputy Ryan's question on the Government's position on the case of the Ibrahim Halawa. I assure Deputy McDonald that the Government will do everything possible. Regardless of all the difficulties and frustrations we have, the reality is the Government cannot directly interfere with a trial in another country. We have to use our diplomatic and consular support for the family and provide legal advice and support, and that is what has been done. The Government will do that through the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

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