FEMPI and adviser top-ups
The Leader defended the unwinding of FEMPI and pay restoration for public servants, while Craughwell argued the real issue was ministerial adviser top-ups and special treatment. The exchange became repetitive, with the Leader insisting the Government had acted to restore pay and the Chair eventually urging a Commencement matter instead.
I remind Senator Craughwell that this and the last Government have been unwinding the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI.
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It topped up the salaries of certain people.
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The Senator should let me finish. If he wants to have a debate, let us hear all the facts. This and the last Government have been unwinding the cuts imposed. Pay restoration is happening.
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Pay restoration is happening. I did not see or hear the Senator come into the House today or any day and welcome the fact that he and many other public servants had received a pay increase and would receive further pay increases of between 6.2% and 6.4% since we started the process of unwinding FEMPI. It behoves the Senator more to recognise that by 2021 or 2022 FEMPI will be no more.
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I accept and have always spoken, as one who has been a public servant all my life, of the importance of the public sector, of the massive imposition that men and women who work in the public service had to endure in the turbulent times of the economy being wrecked by the Fianna Fáil Party-----
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With respect, the Leader is not dealing with the issue, namely top-ups and the disregard for the special jobs.
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If I may finish – I did not interrupt the Senator at all – there was a top-up given to some ministerial advisers, in some cases signed off by the then Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, and a second by the Minister, Deputy Donohoe. There are cases made. I have always made the point and I am on record as saying there should never have been a breach in the salary limit for advisers to Ministers.
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I have always made that point, from which I do not recoil. It is, however, a little unfair of the Senator to come in here and castigate the Government when he fails to recognise that FEMPI is being unwound and pay restoration is happening.
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The Senator can "come on" all he wants to. That is the reality.
