Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I will come back to the Senator on that. Senator Burke suggested ambassadors could be drawn from outside the public service. That is certainly an original suggestion and the names he provided were also interesting. Clearly, some countries have a hybrid model where either a civil service track is followed or someone is selected by government. I am not sure if that is under consideration but I will pass it on to the Department of Foreign Affairs and ask it.

Senator Conway referred to the need for a flexible and dynamic public sector, which is absolutely right. It is why the issue of reform and linking reform with pay rises are present throughout this Bill.

Senator Ward highlighted the plight of criminal justice barristers who are on very low pay and had their fees cut during the previous financial emergency. Those fees were not raised subsequently and there has not been a pay rise since 2002. It is true that barristers are in a profession where, like rock stars, a tiny number of people earn a lot and a large number earn barely anything at all. It is a matter for the Department of Justice, probably in consultation with my Department, to determine rates. I am happy to talk to Senator Ward or anybody else who wants to discuss that. I am sure there are plenty of barristers in this House and in the Dáil.

I look forward to the Bill being progressed in the weeks ahead, particularly as it is needed to give effect to the Building Momentum pay agreement. That agreement involves general pay increases in October, and in October of next year, of 1% each or €500, whichever is greater. It also involves a new sectoral bargaining fund amounting to 1% of basic pay to resolve any outstanding issues such as those that resulted in industrial actions in the period of previous agreements. Work on the implementation of the fund and the identification of the sectoral bargaining units, for example, is well under way and I look forward to seeing it progress over the period ahead.

This Bill is needed not just for Building Momentum but also for the implementation of the Sláintecare consultant contract in the health service, which is a key part of the reform of the public health system. The Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, and his Department will continue to work on the advancement of the new Sláintecare public-only consultant contract. The Bill is also needed for the implementation of the seagoing service commitment scheme, which is a very important reform for the retention of staff in the Naval Service.

I look forward to continuing to work with Members of the House on progressing the Bill. I hope it will pass Second Stage and proceed to Committee Stage so that implementation of the new public service agreement and related matters can proceed. The views expressed here today will be carefully considered prior to Committee Stage.