Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government provided for the establishment of a public service pay commission to deal with, among other elements, entry level pay in the public sector, which was a key driver behind the justifiable action by the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland, ASTI, the impending action by the Garda Representative Association and the potential action on the part of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform indicated that this public service pay commission would report between April and June next year. Could we instead seek an interim report before the year's end, specifically including the issue of entry pay? It is another way of saying equal pay for equal work. We could have the issue debated and resolved rather than waiting until next summer.

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