Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason for cutting the pay of research staff of third level educational institutions in view of the exceptional employment status of research staff and exceptional circumstances relative to the conditions and aspects of their employment; if he will grant an exemption from the reduction in pay rates to research staff under section 6 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9133/10]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the fact that the research staff at Trinity College, Dublin, should be exempt from the pay cut imposed by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No.2) Act 2009 in view of the range of exceptional circumstances relating to their conditions and aspects of employment. [9199/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 182 together.

Section 6 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009 provides that, in certain limited circumstances, the Minister for Finance may by direction exempt or vary the application of the pay reductions provided for in the Act to public servants or groups of public servants.

Representations from a number of Deputies have been made in relation to the application of the pay reductions to contract researchers. The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No 2) Act, 2009 makes provision for the reduction in the pay rates of all persons employed by public service bodies with effect from 1 January 2010. As universities come within the definition in the Act of public service bodies, contract researchers employed by such universities are subject to the pay reductions provided for under the legislation. I have no proposals to exempt persons in that position from the pay reductions.