From: Buckley, Oonagh Sent: 04 January 2010 17:15 To: Mahon, Alan Ce: Dorgan, Eoin; Duffy, Brendan Subject: RE: nos affected Alan the figure of about 160 is broadly accurate when dealing only with A/Secs, However given we are talking about a much larger group, around the 650 mark, it would be important to clarify that if an opportunity arises Oonagh. From: Wahon, Alan Sent: (04 January 2010 17:08 To! Buckley, Oonagh ce: Dorgan, Eoin; Duffy, Brendan Subject: RE nos affected Oonagh What the Minister said today re Ass Sec and equivalent grade numbers on RTE News at | is set out below - we haven't had any queries on this but if we do we can put it in terms of number of CS Ass Secs. Regards Alan Sean O'Rourke: On policy matters. You mentioned the Exchequer Returns, there's controversy as well about a decision which has been described as having been slipped out from this Department, I think on the 22nd of December about how some very senior civil servants are not going to feel the same impact of the pay cuts that you announced in the budget, because their bonuses which they previously had, are now being calculated as part of their basic pay? Brian Lenihan (Minister of Finance): Well we're talking about a very restricted grade here, the Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades in some other organisations. There are about 160 of these in all. But can I say this, that the honuses were abolished already, and if you take the effect on them of a much higher than average pension levy, the abolition of bonuses, and the full impact of the recent cut, would have left them more disadvantaged than any other public servant. As you know the higher public servants, the Ministers, were benchmarked against other European countries. Unlike the middle or lower public servants who were not benchmarked against any other countries. And this particular grade were found not to be paid more than in any other countries. And a reduction has been imposed upon them, which it was believed, in all the circumstances, the ease was a reasonable reduction for them. They are not paid overtime for any additional work they do, they're bonuses were abolished, and in all those circumstances the Government took the view that it would be reasonable to make an exceptional arrangement for them, given all those anomalies. And again the Government has that power under the legislation and opted to exercise that power. And there's no question of this being done in any clandestine way. Sean O'Rourke: Principal Teachers in National Schools might take the view Minister that they're taking a ‘very heavy cut as well, something in the order of 19%? Brian Lenihan (Minister of Finance): Yeah but they weren't benchmarked against international 1parisons Sean, and you know if they come back to me and ask to be benchmarked against international comparisons, I will examine that. Buckley, Conagh 04 January 2010 15:53 Mahon, Alan leary, Tony; Brazel, Peter; Dorgan, Eoin; Duffy, Brendan; Austin, Mary; Clarke, Tom os affected just fo mention to you, as well as the 400 or so covered by the change in the CS, Gardai, HSE, Defence Forces and NCSSBs, approx 270 officials in the local government service will also be affected by the change to their salary scales, Oonagh.