Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

This is the most interesting section in the Bill. In the recent past we have heard much about the benefits of benchmarking, particularly from the Senators present. I subscribe fully to the notion that those in the public service who do good work should not be disadvantaged when compared to the private sector. However, benchmarking must be applied to all aspects of the terms and conditions of employment and not just to salary, which may be what some people had in mind. A person leaving employment in the private sector whose employment is broken loses all benefits subsequently.