RTÉ pay and Garda insolvency
Members briefly discuss declining RTÉ fees; the Deputy Leader clarifies that Gardaí may use the Personal Insolvency Act without losing their jobs.
Fees have declined by 30% in the past three years.
Comment on this
That is correct and I anticipate further reductions. The previous snowball effect in terms of fees was upwards, but it has been reversed.
Senator Michael D'Arcy also referred to RTE and raised an interesting question as to whether a garda could avail of the measures provided under the new Personal Insolvency Act. Having checked this issue, I understand from the Department of Justice and Equality that there is nothing to preclude gardaí from making an application under the personal insolvency legislation and those who do would not lose their jobs. That is a welcome clarification.
Senator John Crown raised the issue of biomedical research and pointed out that Ireland had a good reputation in the area of international medical trials.