Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will support a matter (details supplied). [9671/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to my reply to Questions Nos. 176 and 182 answered on 23 February 2010.

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.