Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is reviewing any new proposals to address excessive pay in the public and private sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2834/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Apart from instances where statutory rates of pay apply, pay rates in the private sector are generally a matter for negotiation between individual employers and employees and I have no proposals which would impact on that relationship.

My responsibilities in relation to pay extend to the public service where the Government has a direct role in the determination of pay rates as employer. Pay for all public servants has already been reduced by an average of 14% through pay cuts and a progressive pension related reduction applied through the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts of 2009, with more severe pay cuts to members of the Government and senior public servants of up to 30%. In relation to the remuneration of senior positions in the public service and the Commercial State Companies, the Government has applied a general pay ceiling of €200,000 for future appointments to higher positions across the public service and a general pay ceiling of €250,000 for future appointments to CEO posts within Commercial State Companies.

Discussions are currently underway between public service employers and the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions as representatives of public servants in relation to an extension of the Public Service (Croke Park) Agreement with the stated intention to reach agreement on securing overall savings of an additional €1 billion from the public service pay bill by 2015. This will involve reductions in payroll costs for serving staff as well as significant productivity and workforce reform measures, in addition to those already achieved under the current Croke Park Agreement.