Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like my colleague, Deputy Calleary, I want to focus my attention on the consequences of the public service pay talks in the context of a cost-of-living crisis. Where we would like to see the Government head with these talks is towards targeted measures at lower-income public servants, the threshold for which I will allow the Department and others to decide. If we are to be realistic about the effect of public service pay increases at this time, we need to target them at those who need it most, as opposed to those in the upper echelons of the public service. I believe there is opportunity.

The cost-of-living crisis has had a profound effect on the entire economy and if the Government is to respond appropriately to that in addition to the substantial measures that have been introduced, we should target the public sector pay talks at lower-income individuals because it cannot be done in isolation.

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