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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Nov 1937

Vol. 69 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ministerial Salaries.

asked the President if he will state (a) the reasons for nonacceptance by the President, Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries of the full amount of salaries passed on June 9th in the Dáil during the period between 1st April, 1937, and July 20th, 1937, and (b) to give the reasons for the acceptance of same since July 20th, 1937.

During the period between the 1st April and 20th July last the President and others concerned continued to accept the voluntary reductions in salaries which had been in operation since 1932. The nonacceptance during that period of the full amount of the salaries passed by the Dáil was in accordance with the statement which I made on the 25th February last, when the volume of Estimates was being circulated to Deputies. On that occasion I drew attention to the fact that the sums provided in the Estimates for the salaries of the President of the Executive Council, Ministers, and others, for the current financial year, were those fixed by law — not the lower sums which had been taken since 1932. I explained that, although the statutory rates were provided, it was not the intention that they should be accepted pending the general election and the assembly of the new Dáil — the idea being that the existing position ought not to be changed until a general election had intervened.

The statutory salaries have been accepted since the Government was reconstituted on the 21st July last because the sums previously taken had been found insufficient to meet the expenses arising out of the official positions held, and because the Government was satisfied that it would not be in the public interest to allow that situation to continue.

I desire to take advantage of this opportunity to refer to certain statements which have appeared recently in the Press. In June of this year a Committee, comprising representatives of all Parties and a number of independent persons, who are not members of the Dáil, was set up to consider and report on the remuneration of Ministers and other officers of State. Statements which have been published purporting to give the recommendations of this Committee are completely unauthorised. No report has yet been received by the Government from the Committee. When the Committee has reported, the Government will have to consider, as in the case of every other report received from a committee or commission of inquiry, what action it is desirable to take in regard to its recommendations.

Does the President wish to convey to the House and to the country that he got a mandate from the country at the general election to increase those allowances?

I wish simply to convey what I have said, namely that when the Book of Estimates was being distributed here in February last I indicated that the Dáil was being asked to make provision for the current financial year not for the sums which had been voluntarily accepted by Ministers during the previous five or six years but for the full statutory sums. As I have said in my reply, I indicated at the same time that those statutory rates were not going to be accepted during the interval, pending a general election.

Will the President answer my question? I have asked him does he wish to convey to the House and to the country that he got a mandate from the people of this country to increase his own allowance and the allowances of his Ministers?

I stated that the people were made aware from February last, and later when the Dáil passed the Estimates, that it was the intention to take those salaries, but not during the interval.

An bhfuil an tUachtarán sásta go raibh fhios ag an tír go raibh sé á dhéanamh seo roimh an Toghadh Mór, mar ní fhuair aon duine na leabhraí seo a raibh an tuairise seo ionta acht Teachtai an Tighe?

In view of the unsatisfactory answer of the President, I wish to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

That is a matter which the Chair will have to consider, whether it is the type of question which could be raised on the Adjournment. The Deputy will be notified.

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