Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like other Senators, I acknowledge the wonderful contribution of the Taoiseach last evening in the Dáil. The apology was long overdue, but it came at a very important juncture. It is to be hoped it will give some solace to the victims of the Magdalen laundries. The attention now moves to the question of redress, which is essential. Such redress must not favour the legal profession substantially; rather, the money should be directed to the victims and their families. The Government must ensure there will be no repetition of what happened when redress was made available by the State and the legal profession benefited substantially.

I agree wholeheartedly with Senator John Kelly and other Senators who spoke about front-line emergency staff. Nurses, front-line local authority staff, HSE front-line staff and firemen should not be alienated by the State in seeking cost savings. The Senator highlighted staff in local authorities, HSE management, at all tiers of management, including very senior staff in every Department, who are tripping over each other. They are not being targeted, even though most of them are in receipt of salaries in excess of ¤70,000 to ¤100,000 a year. Why is the Government touching those on salaries of ¤20,000 to ¤30,000 a year? Strikes must be avoided at all costs. Members of An Garda Síochána and nurses took out mortgages when property prices were high, but now they are suffering and struggling to repay these loans. The removal of allowances which are deemed to form part of core pay should not be undertaken. The Government needs to go back to the drawing board. It needs to look at those at the top of the public sector pay bill to see if they can give a little more. It needs to engage proactively with the 24-7 alliance, rather than adopt a stand-off approach as is happening. A stand-off will lead to strikes and everyone will suffer as a result.