Higgins calls for Civil Service 'fat cats' to face reality

SEANAD REPORT:MANY SENIOR and middle managers in the Civil Service on "fat cat salaries" needed to face up to reality and accept that things were changing, Lorraine Higgins (Lab) said.

Those earning not inconsiderable sums would have to be open to voluntary pay cuts. How could people on the average industrial wage be told they had to take unpalatable medicine when those in the economic elite were left relatively unscathed, she asked.

Change had to happen from the top down. “We have seen this recently, when the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste took pay cuts, deputies and Senators followed suit, and there may be more in the future.”

Speaking in the debate on the Bill to establish the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Ms Higgins said she hoped one of its first money-saving actions would be to abolish or amalgamate the quangos that had grown like fertilised grass during the so-called Celtic Tiger era.

Minister for Public Expenditure Reform Brendan Howlin said he agreed with Darragh O’Brien (FF) that there was a need to do better on public procurement. He said he had met senior officials of Google, which did all its cross-European procurement in this country.

The Bill passed second stage, although Fianna Fáil challenged a vote due to concerns that the measure was being rushed through.

In an earlier division, called for the same reason, Katherine Zappone, a nominee of the Taoiseach, voted with the Opposition.

Leas Cathaoirleach Denis O’Donovan (FF) urged the Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson be invited to address the House at an early date. He said this would be a major step in cementing the peace process. He would also like to have the Deputy First Minister speak in the chamber at a different time.

Cathaoirleach Paddy Burke said this was a matter for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.