Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 13, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following:“(2) In the case of a public servant who is an employee or officer of the Central Bank of Ireland, a reference in subsection (1)to the “Minister” shall be construed as a reference to the “Central Bank Commission”.”.

This is a technical amendment. It grants the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the power to address anomalies in pay scales as a result of scheduled pay increases in the Bill. It grants the power to the Central Bank Commission in respect of employees or officers of the Central Bank of Ireland. The Minister is submitting this technical amendment in recognition of the independence of the Central Bank of Ireland. Section 6(d) of the Central Bank Act 1942 provides for the commission to fix such conditions, including conditions as to remuneration, for employees of the Central Bank of Ireland. As such, it is appropriate that the power to amend the salaries of Central Bank of Ireland staff, where anomalies arise, lie with the Central Bank Commission rather than the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

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