Most of those who have already spoken on this motion commenced by drawing the attention of the Dáil to the terms of it. Despite that fact, however, the majority of the speakers failed to deal with it. They dealt with matters related to and possibly arising out of the motion. But the proposal which is before the Dáil cannot be said to have been discussed on its merits at all. Briefly, the proposal is that a committee of inquiry should be set up to examine the method of compiling the cost-of-living index figure and the application of the bonus to civil servants' salaries. That is all that the motion asks the Dáil to do. The Dáil is not asked to declare that the present method of compiling the cost-of-living index figure is unsatisfactory, or that the method of applying the bonus to salaries should be altered. It is requested only, in view of the fact that dissatisfaction exists in certain branches of the service, to agree to the setting up of this inquiry so that it will be possible to discover whether or not there are any grounds for that dissatisfaction.
I am one of those who think that it is very undesirable that questions relating to conditions in the Civil Service should be the subject-matter of political action. When I was first approached concerning this matter I expressed that view. It was only when it was demonstrated to me that no acceptable method existed for the adjustment of differences within the service that I agreed to become a member of a deputation which met the acting Minister for Finance to discuss the matter. It was the implacable attitude of the acting Minister for Finance which brought those who were pushing this matter to the point of deciding that a motion should be tabled in the Dáil. If the Minister for Finance had redeemed the promise which he is stated to have given to representatives of the service a number of years ago and had arranged for the establishment of a representative council with a constitution acceptable to the service, a council on which matters of this kind could be fully thrashed out between the interested parties, the Dáil would not have been called upon to consider such a motion as this. The motion; however, is before us, and the question we are asked to decide is whether or not it is desirable that such a committee of inquiry should be set up.
The Minister for Industry and Commerce made a very able and convincing speech last night, but it was not a speech that dealt with the motion. It was a speech which convinced me that the members of the Government are thoroughly satisfied that if such a committee of inquiry were set up the case which they would be able to submit to it would be so strong that the committee would have no alternative except to decide that the present method of compiling the cost-of-living index figure is a satisfactory one. The case which the Minister for Industry and Commerce made last night was one which, in our opinion, should have been reserved for this committee. If the Minister is convinced, as obviously he is, that no satisfactory change can be made in the present method, then it is hard to see why he should object to the inquiry. That was the point made by Deputy Finlay, who argued that if the Government are satisfied that the result of the inquiry must be a report to the effect that the present method is the most satisfactory one, then it is politically desirable that such an inquiry should be set up so that the grounds upon which it is alleged dissatisfaction in the Civil Service rests will be removed. If such an inquiry was set up and produced such a report as the Minister anticipates, then the Minister for Finance would be in a much stronger position to reject the applications which are being made to him by the organisations representing the Civil Service. On the other hand, if the committee of inquiry, having examined the case put forward last night by the Minister for Industry and Commerce, found that it was faulty, found, in fact, that the present method of compiling the cost-of-living index figure was not satisfactory, then is it not obviously desirable that the method should be changed or, at any rate, that the Dáil should be given an opportunity of examining the question again?
Some attempt was made to link up the proposal at present before the Dáil with arguments which have been advanced here from time to time, to the effect that the cost of the Civil Service is excessive or that certain individual members of it are paid at an unduly high rate. If such a committee of inquiry as is contemplated by the motion were set up we have no objection whatever to that committee being given terms of reference as wide as possible. Let them examine the whole question and consider not merely the narrow point whether the present method of compiling the cost-of-living index figure is satisfactory, but whether the present method of remunerating civil servants, partly by basic salary and partly by bonus, is the most satisfactory one. The views of members of this Party are, I think, quite well known. We think there are a large number of civil servants who are being paid far more than they are worth to the State. On the other hand, we believe that there are a large number of those in the lower grades who can justly claim that they are being unfairly treated under the present method. A reduction in the cost-of-living index figure means proportionately a much larger reduction in the remuneration of postmen and of other civil servants in the lower grades than it does in the case of civil servants in the higher grades. The method upon which the remuneration of civil servants is based has been explained by many speakers. I do not propose to go into it again. Although not opposed to the system of having a portion of the salaries of civil servants upon a sliding scale, we think that that should be so calculated that the hardship consequent upon a problematical drop in the cost of living suffered by those with the lower salaries could be alleviated.
The motion before the Dáil is divided into two parts. The first relates to the method of compiling the figure. I cannot claim to be an authority upon statistical matters, and I do not propose to enter into the arguments advanced by the Minister for Industry and Commerce in that connection. We know that many matters that enter into the cost of living cannot be said to have fallen to any extent to what the cost-of-living figure would indicate. We are concerned with this cost-of-living index figure for several reasons. One of them is the grounds upon which the remuneration of civil servants is calculated in reference to it. In fact, it could be said in the long run that the impression created by the publication of these figures determines wages and salaries in practically all industries. Rent is taken as one considerable item in the average budget, and therefore comes into the index figure. No one can say that rents have been falling, particularly in the City of Dublin. As Deputies know, we have on the Statute Book Rent Restrictions Acts the existence of which implies that we believe the tendency of rents is to go upward, and that it is necessary, in the public interest, to keep them down by legislation. The Rent Restrictions Acts are due to expire this year. If they expire most Deputies know there will be an upward tendency in the rents of dwellings which the lower-paid grades of civil servants usually inhabit. Whether or not the method of compiling the figure is right, we think an inquiry should be made into it. Undoubtedly a large number of civil servants believe that they are adversely affected because of the fact that a wrong basis of calculation is in operation. If the Minister is satisfied that that is not so, then he can have no objection to an inquiry. The only reason for which he could refuse an inquiry is because he believes it might result in a change in the system, a change which he might consider undesirable. If he is satisfied that the result of the inquiry must be a report in favour of the present system, then the only objection advanced against the inquiry is removed, whereas on the other hand a very decided advantage would be gained, the advantage of removing the cause of dissatisfaction which the motion states exists amongst various grades of the Civil Service.
The second part of the motion deals with the application of the bonus to civil servants' salaries. We think that question should be examined, the question whether there should in fact be a bonus, the question whether the proportion of the average salaries on a sliding scale is not excessive in relation to the basic salary, and the variation that might be made in basic salary rates. A good case could be made, we believe, for examination of this question, apart altogether from any discontent that may exist in the Civil Service. We would like to see the inquiry to be entered on, if the motion is passed, as wide as possible, so that the whole question of the remuneration of civil servants will be thoroughly examined and a system devised which would remove all causes of discontent. Perhaps it is not possible to remove all causes of discontent. If motions of this kind and questions relating to the Civil Service are not to come before the Dáil again, the Minister must change his attitude, and must co-operate in the establishment of some council which will act as a medium for discussion between his Department and those who can claim to speak for the general body of civil servants.
These are the matters to which the motion relates. The merits of the actual method of compiling the cost-of-living index figure do not relate to it. The points raised by the Minister for Finance dealing with the variations which have taken place in the method of payment of bonus do not relate to it. These matters might, and should, be properly discussed by a Committee of Inquiry, if established, but the question before the Dáil is merely whether it is politically advisable such inquiry should be made, and no answer whatever has been made to the contention that it should be.
