Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I seek a debate in early course with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on public sector pay and specifically regarding pay for gardaí. I note the Labour Party leader in the House has mentioned the new recruits in Templemore and all Members of course welcome that. However, I wish to quote briefly from an e-mail I received from one of them. It states that each of the 300 new recruits is proud to be doing what most of them always have wanted to do. It notes they battled through a tough recruitment process, which started off with 25,000 people, but goes on to state they deserve better than the pay scale that is being recommended at present. An Garda Síochána stresses the slogan "a fair day's pay for a fair day's work". However, following on from a 10% decrease in 2009 and a further 10% later for new entrants, the rent allowance of €4,000 per year pensionable is also to go. Were the rent allowance to be included, the pay would be approximately €27,000, which is hardly a high salary.

It is incredible in the extreme to hear the Labour Party congratulating new recruits who are to come in on a salary of €23,171. That is a full 36% below the average industrial wage. This is unthinkable and while Senator Mullins rightly quoted that officers must have the courage to stand up to their colleagues, I hope they are not in particular need of money. At 36% less than the average industrial wage, how dare we tell new recruits - who arguably are the brightest generation of recruits with university degrees and second level education many before them would not have had - that they can operate at €23,171, while, incidentally, they will be expected to be above reproach, better than their predecessors and to have the courage of which Senator Mullins and the Government spoke? Far be it from the industrial relations champions about whom Senator Landy talks in the context of Bus Éireann, but gardaí are expected to operate - Senator Bacik may leave the Chamber - as new recruits for 36% less than the average industrial wage. These are the people we expect to do a good job on our behalf.