Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join other Senators in wishing all the staff and Members of the House a very happy and holy Christmas and a successful new year. Hopefully, those who are contesting the elections will be back in the House afterwards. Could the Leader to convey to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the desirability of including the salary scales in all advertisements for public appointments in the Civil Service, local authorities or other public bodies?We have heard a lot in recent times about exorbitant salaries being paid to people in different organisations, particularly the IFA, in a surreptitious way and without the members of the organisation, who should have decision-making capacity over these salaries, being aware of them. This happens in very many organisations and, sadly, it has happened in the public service within the past decade. It is essential that transparency exists and salaries should be clearly stated in newspaper advertisements. These positions should also be opened up to people in the private sector.

Both public and private sector would benefit from greater mobility in the jobs market and by people moving from one to the other. There is a skill set and an integrity in the public service which would be good for the private sector and there is a dynamic work ethic in the private sector which would benefit the public service.