In the final quarter of 2023 and the start of the subsequent year, an agreement for a £3.6 billion public pay deal was facilitated by Paschal Donohoe and his committed team with the public sector trade unions. Such contracts generally receive little praise once they are sealed, however, failure to secure a deal could have proven politically detrimental. Not long after, rumours abound of a subsequent pay deal; this one is significantly smaller, yet also carries its own inherent political risk.
It has been revealed by Martin Wall that top-tier executives within public organisations such as RTÉ are likely to experience a salary increase following the government’s decision to reassess their compensation.
This decision has emerged following the recommendation by an independent panel for the establishment of a new body to scrutinize compensation given to senior civil servants, judges, senior police and military personnel, and hospital consultants. The government is keen to highlight that this is not a scheme to financially favour influential insiders. Nevertheless, the timing of the new Senior Posts Remuneration Committee’s creation is particularly delicate, given ongoing concerns surrounding RTÉ executive and presenter salaries. Questions are arising as to why the government is pressing forward with this at such a time. If, as predicted, high-earning public servants receive pay hikes amidst the government’s continued election journey, it will undoubtedly elicit its own measure of political controversy.
In other news, Jennifer Bray reported on the government’s appeal to publicly funded organisations to abstain from releasing information regarding forthcoming family and care referendums – an issue that could potentially incite response in the days following the referendum.
On a different note, speculation has arisen whether Martin will publicly address allegations of an ‘absent approach’ from a former RTÉ chairwoman.
Furthermore, an array of notable reads—Miriam Lord presents an account of a lightly attended Dáil chamber on International Women’s Day; Pat Leahy introduces new RTÉ chair and board members; from the UK, Mark Paul evaluates the issues Keir Starmer deals with after George Galloway’s election win, and Tara Brady anticipates a documentary prelude to Women’s soccer World Cups, executively produced by Serena & Venus Williams.
Nonetheless, amidst these developments, the Taoiseach is attending a meeting of the European Peoples’ Party in Bucharest.
The day’s proceedings in the Dáil initiate with debates on current matters at 9.10am, sub sequentially followed by a proposition from the Labour Party. The party protests against the Government’s housing goals claiming them to be considerably below par and urges the Government to devise a more effective action plan with loftier aims.
The schedule includes Leaders’ Questions at noon, followed by questions concerning Policies or Legislation. The introduction of the Sex for Rent Bill is scheduled post lunch prior to the time reserved for Government discussions, focusing on Seachtain na Gaeilge, rare illnesses, and bills regarding the patent court referendum and other legislative matters in progress.
Over at the Seanad, commencement concerns will be addressed at 10.30am. Later in the day, there will also be statements on Seachtain na Gaeilge and in observance of International Women’s Day. Physically a motion on the private rental industry, proposing a three-year ban on rent hikes, is led by Sinn Féin Senators in the afternoon.
The housing committee carries on with its in-depth investigation of the Planning and Development Bill. This following an unusual collective statement by the opposition’s housing representatives on the enforced timetable for discussion on the bill. Darragh O’Brien is expected to attend this meeting at 9am.
At 9.30am, Stephen Donnelly will join the health committee to progress the committee stage of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill. The finance committee will scrutinise the Access to Cash Bill in the afternoon, inclusive of Age Action Ireland. Later in the evening, hearings on the nitrates directive will be led by the agriculture committee and the HSE will share insights on disability services with the disability committee – both sessions commence at 5.30pm.
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