Over the past 30 years the pay of TDs has been examined by the review body on higher remuneration in the public sector. The review body, which was established in 1969, is an independent standing body whose primary function is to advise the Government on the general levels of remuneration appropriate to higher public servants, members of the Judiciary, Members of the Oireachtas and other political office holders.
The review body carries out general reviews of higher remuneration in the public sector every four years. Its most recent general review was carried out in the course of 2000, and its report was published by the Government in January 2001. In line with the established policy of accepting the recommendations of this independent body, the Government decided to accept and implement the recommendations in its report. The recommendations were implemented in four phases between 25 September 2000 and 1 April 2002.
The report of the review body recommended that the salary of a TD should be set at the ordinary maximum of the grade of principal, standard, in the Civil Service. It went on to state that, as its recommendation provided a basis for the future automatic review of the remuneration of TDs, their remuneration should no longer form part of the remit for general reviews. Accordingly, TDs will in future receive the same pay increases as principals in the Civil Service, including increases arising from the benchmarking process.