Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment proposed by Senator O'Brien. It is time Mr. Justice Nial Fennelly's interim report was published. It would be useful to do that in the interests of everybody, including the Taoiseach. I do not believe the rumours about the Taoiseach having shafted the then Garda Commissioner are useful. Whether they are true or not, we need to get the facts of the matter and the people are entitled to it. Announcements of additional gardaí being recruited will not cover the fact that people yearn for that and are entitled to it.

I would also like to ask for a debate on public sector pay. The Government may have plans for a forum in this regard, and we look forward to participating in it, but many of the reductions in the public service in terms of pay and conditions in recent years were seen as temporary. Now, as things are beginning to improve, it is only fair that the squeezed middle would be looked after in some way. There is much celebration, particularly on the Labour Party benches, with regard to the 250 Garda recruits announced and the 300 completing their training in Templemore but all of those are being paid 35% less than the average industrial wage. That is a possible subject for a motion at the Labour Party conference. These people are our best and brightest. Are they not entitled to the same rates of pay as their superiors and equals? It is clear that some are more equal than others. The same applies to teachers and nurses. The cost of living has increased in many instances. The cost of rents has certainly increased and we expect these people to work for 30% to 35% less than the average industrial wage.

If there is an improvement in the national coffers, if unemployment levels are falling and things are so good that we have to have Private Members' motions this evening and every other evening commending the Minister of the day for their superior action on behalf of all of us, surely these people in the front line are entitled to a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. That is not the position, so I hope the Labour Party and Fine Gael can deal with this issue.Young gardaí, teachers, nurses and civil servants all over this country have been squeezed in the middle. Now that they are seeing much debate and celebration by the Taoiseach and senior Government Ministers as to the State's perceived recovery, they are wondering when it will visit their door. I think they are entitled to know.