Terry Brennan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. To be honest and fair, he has consistently acknowledged that during the crisis the sacrifices of public servants and public service pensioners assisted in putting the country on the road to recovery - he mentioned that in his statement - while sustaining our public services. Therefore as economic growth returns and the economy is improving on a weekly basis and more people are going back to work and paying taxes and so on, it is right and proper, as stated by my colleague, Senator Hayden, that as everybody paid the price, everybody is due something back, be it on a gradual basis or otherwise.

Perhaps I can refer briefly to the famous agreement where councillors throughout the length and breadth of the country are regarded as public officers, some of whom have taken on tremendous additional work and some are working full time. Given that they paid the price as well and have taken on greater responsibilities, larger areas and more travel, I believe they are due some recompense. I hope that is part of the agreement for the future. I believe they are entitled to their just reward on a phased basis the same as everybody else.