Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 28 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 7

Written Answers. - Salary of the Tánaiste.

Dermot Ahern

Ceist:

43 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Finance when the practice commenced whereby the Tánaiste was paid an allowance over and above the ministerial/TD salary; the number of times this has been increased since; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[1148/95]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

The Tánaiste and other Ministers are paid the same remuneration as TDs and, in addition, a salary in their capacity as an office-holder. Up until 1974 the salary was the same for both. In 1974, the Tánaiste was first paid a higher salary than a Minister as a result of a recommendation made by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector in 1972. The review body had recommended this change because of the special responsibilities of the Tánaiste. The difference was about 10 per cent.

All general increases in pay which have been applied in the Civil Service since 1974 have also been applied to the office-holder salaries. In addition, they have been increased on two further occasions during this period as a result of recommendations made by the review body — reports No. 20 (1979) and No. 30 (1987) of the review body. The salary difference increased to 12 per cent and 14 per cent under these reports, respectively

Further increases in office-holders' salaries were recommended by the review body in report No. 35 which was published in 1992. The increases would not have involved a change in the percentage difference between the office-holder salary of the Tánaiste and that of a Minister. As the Deputy will be aware, however, the members of the present Government have voluntarily foregone the increases recommended in that report.