Joe O'Toole (Independent)

The House should note the fact that benchmarking awards will be paid to politicians during the course of this month and next month. We will not receive the payments before anyone else but at the same time as most of the rest of the public service. I would like to make two points about this development, which is crucially important. Any moneys to be allocated have been hard won and hard fought across the negotiating table. Cases were made by people like me on behalf of various groups. At no time was it envisaged that people were seeking more than they deserved or was it suggested that anyone got more than they deserved. I am not even slightly impressed by those publicly sending money back in respect of increases which have been hard fought.