Budget Build Up 2011

Labour in Government is committed to genuineand far-reaching reform and although we are just eight months into ourterm of office, with Brendan Howlin as Minister for Public Expenditureand Reform, we have already made significant progress in that regard. We have:

 

1. Reduced the pay of the Taoiseach andministers

2. Cut spending on ministers’ transport

3. Reformed the way senior civil servantsare appointed

4. Cut retirement packages for secretariesgeneral

5. Introduced pay ceilings for seniorpublic servants

6. Reduced the number of Oireachtas committees

7. Reduced future public service pensions costs

8. Published legislation to reduce judges’pay

9. Put a pay cap on semi state and publicsector bosses

10. Announced a sweeping programme ofpublic sector reform

See the links below for further information on the progress made to date by Labour in government.

1. Reduced the pay of the Taoiseachand ministers Government cuts Ministers’ pay http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2011/03/government-cuts-ministers-pay/

New Govt takes pay cut on day one http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0310/1224291780303.html

Taoiseach takes power and a pay cut http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/taoiseach-takes-power-and-a-pay-cut-2573396.html

2. Cut spending on ministers’ transport €4m savings on Ministerial transport

http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2011/03/e4m-savings-on-ministerial-transport-shatter/

Mercs and perks and leadership http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2011/0318/1224292506442.html

Facing our reality – Cutting cars is symbolic but welcome http://www.examiner.ie/opinion/editorial/facing-our-reality–cutting-cars-is-symbolic-but-welcome-148431.html#ixzz1ee8ChMkn

It’s end of the road for ‘Mercs and perks’ http://www.independent.ie/national-news/its-end-of-the-road-for-mercs-and-perks-2581133.html

3.Reformed the way senior civil servantsare appointed Minister Howlin announces reformed Top Level Appointment Committee terms

http://per.gov.ie/2011/04/15/reform-of-top-level-appointments-committee-tlac/

Civil servants lose ‘closed shop’ power http://www.independent.ie/national-news/civil-servants-lose-closed-shop-power-2614046.html

Reform of State boards http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2011/0415/1224294726027.html

4. Cut retirement packages for secretariesgeneral Minister Howlin announces reformed Top Level Appointment Committee terms

http://per.gov.ie/2011/11/08/minister-howlin-announces-reformed-top-level-appointment-committee-tlac-terms/

Civil service golden goodbyes axed http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/civil-service-golden-goodbyes-axed-2928907.html

5. Introduced pay ceilings for seniorpublic servants Minister Howlin announces pay ceilings for CEOs of Semi States and SeniorPublic Sector Posts

http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2011/06/minister-howlin-announces-pay-ceilings-for-ceos-of-semi-states-and-senior-public-sector-posts/

Howlin announces civil service cuts http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1108/breaking25.html

6. Reduced the number of Oireachtascommittees New Committee System the first step in the Government’s plan for radicalOireachtas Reform

http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2011/06/new-committee-system-the-first-step-in-the-governments-plan-for-radical-oireachtas-reform-kehoe/

Abolition of Seanad and cut in TD numbers among reforms http://www.examiner.ie/text/ireland/kfeyqleyeykf/

7. Reduced future public service pensions costs Minister Howlin Publishes the Public Services Pensions Bill

http://per.gov.ie/2011/09/29/minister-howlin-publishes-the-public-services-pensions-single-scheme-and-remuneration-bill-2011/

New pensions for public sector http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0929/breaking20.html

No more golden handshakes: Civil servants wave goodbye to generous severancepayments http://www.independent.ie/national-news/no-more-golden-handshakes-civil-servants-wave-goodbye-to-generous-severance-payments-2928902.html

8. Published legislation to cut judgespay Minister Howlin publishes legislation toimplement the outcome to the Referendum on pay of Judges

http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2011/11/minister-howlin-publishes-legislation-to-implement-the-outcome-to-the-referendum-on-pay-of-judges-2/

Law cutting pay of judges likely to be in force by January http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1119/1224307821920.html

New judges to face salary cut as part of public pay proposals http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0613/1224298812689.html

9. Put a pay cap on semi state andpublic sector bosses Minister Howlin announces pay ceilings for CEOs of Semi States and SeniorPublic Sector Posts

http://per.gov.ie/2011/06/22/minister-howlin-announces-pay-ceilings-for-ceos-of-semi-states-and-senior-public-sector-posts/

Howlin says semi-state pay will be cut http://www.examiner.ie/ireland/howlin-says-semi-state-pay-will-be-cut-152133.html

Rabbitte calls for end to ‘ridiculous’ payfor semi-state bosses http://www.examiner.ie/breakingnews/ireland/rabbitte-calls-for-end-to-ridiculous-pay-for-semi-state-bosses-510571.html

Public pay rates should be known, Howlin says http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0624/1224299525047.html

Top civil servants accept pay cuts, says Howlin http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0623/1224299456229.html

Public pay cap details unveiled http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0622/breaking34.html

10. Announced a sweeping programme ofpublic sector reform Reforms will ensure a better public service- by eliminating duplication, wastage, and will save the exchequer billions.

http://www.labour.ie/blog/2011/11/17/howlin-launches-programme-of-public-sector-reform/

Howlin pledges better service http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1117/breaking46.html

Public service staff to be cut by 18,000over the next four years http://www.independent.ie/national-news/public-service-staff-to-be-cut-by-18000-over-the-next-four-years-2937541.html