I move:—
That it is expedient to authorise such charges on and payments out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof as are necessary to give effect to any Act of the present Session to increase with retrospective effect the salary of the Comptroller and Auditor-General.
As Deputies are aware, this Bill deals with the salary of the Comptroller and Auditor-General. His salary is governed by the Comptroller and Auditor-General Act, 1923, sub-section (1) of Section 2, providing for the payment to him of a salary of £1,500 inclusive per annum. The purpose of the present Bill is to provide for an increase of 25 per cent. in that salary with effect as from the 1st April last. The increase proposed, which will bring the salary of the Comptroller and Auditor-General up to £1,875 is in keeping with the increases granted generally to public servants with comparable salaries.