Seanad debates
Thursday, 30 May 2013
Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages
11:30 am
Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source
I move amendment No. 25:
In page 11, before section 7, to insert the following new section:
“7.—Section 2 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009 is amended by the substitution of the following Tables for the Tables in that subsection:
Office | Reduction |
|---|---|
| President | Total annual remuneration shall be no more than €100,000 |
| Taoiseach | Total annual remuneration shall be no more than €100,000 |
| Tánaiste | Total annual remuneration shall be no more than €100,000 |
| Minister | Total annual remuneration shall be no more than €100,000 |
| Minister of State | Total annual remuneration shall be no more than €100,000 |
| Ceann Comhairle | Total annual remuneration shall be no more than €100,000 |
| Leas-Cheann Comhairle | Total annual remuneration shall be no more than €100,000 |
| Cathaoirleach | Total annual remuneration shall be no more than €100,000 |
| Teachta Dála | Total annual remuneration shall be no more than €75,000 |
| Senator | Total annual remuneration shall be no more than €60,000 |
| Oireachtas Committee Chair | 100 per cent reduction of remuneration |
| Commission Members | 100 per cent reduction of remuneration |
| Government Whip allowance | 100 per cent reduction of remuneration |
| Assistant Government Whip allowance | 100 per cent reduction of remuneration |
| Whip to the opposition parties | 100 per cent reduction of remuneration |
| Assistant whip to the opposition parties | 100 per cent reduction of remuneration |
| Leader of the House (Seanad) allowance | 100 per cent reduction of remuneration |
| Deputy Leader of the House (Seanad) allowance | 100 per cent reduction of remuneration |
| Opposition Leader of the House (Seanad) | 100 per cent reduction of remuneration |
| Government Whip (Seanad) | 100 per cent reduction of remuneration |
| Assistant Government Whip (Seanad) | 100 per cent reduction of remuneration |
| Leader of the Independent Group (Seanad) | 100 per cent reduction of remuneration |
| Leader of the Labour Group (Seanad) | 100 per cent reduction of remuneration |
| Whip to the Independent Group (Seanad) | 100 per cent reduction of remuneration |
| Whip to the Labour Group (Seanad) | 100 per cent reduction of remuneration |
Annualised amount of total remuneration | Reduction |
|---|---|
Hospital Consultant | Total annual remuneration shall be no more than €150,000 |
Many people find it difficult to accept that when so much is being demanded of them, they are being treated differently from Oireachtas Members. We heard this on the doorsteps during the recent by-election campaign and we hear it every time we interact with members of the public, especially at budget time. On Second Stage, the Minister commented on the current salary of the Taoiseach compared to the salaries of previous Taoisigh. People believe public officeholders and Oireachtas Members are being treated differently from them. The Bill provides an excellent opportunity to tackle the pay of Deputies and Senators and to slash additional payments for officeholders such as Ministers, abolish payments to committee Chairmen, group leaders and others. Were this amendment to be accepted, people would find it easier to stomach the measures in the legislation. Some of the payments in question are not acceptable. We should not protect the salaries of certain individuals, especially in times of recession.
Amendment No. 32 seeks to abolish the pay increase for super junior Ministers. There is no justification for paying someone an extra €17,000 for the privilege of attending Cabinet meetings. Elected politicians should consider it a privilege to serve at Cabinet and use whatever unique skills they may have at the Cabinet table for the public good. The pay increase for such Ministers should not proceed.
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