The introduction of a pilot convergence scheme has been suggested for civil servants at the Department of Agriculture by a TD frustrated with the flattening of farm payments.

Independent TD for Wexford Verona Murphy spoke out against convergence in Dáil Éireann last week during a debate on Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) reform.

Murphy explained that convergence would mean upper civil servant staff in the Department, such as the secretary general, would take a sizeable cut in their salary and redistribute it down to the lower staffing grades like the clerical officers. This would happen on an annual basis.

Pilot

“So, when it’s piloted in the civil service and they accept it then maybe it’s time we try it in agriculture, because there is no other sector in this country that would be asked to come from the top to the bottom and expect it to be accepted,” Murphy said.

“Our teachers wouldn’t accept it, our nurses, our medical staff, but yet our very own Department of Agriculture thinks that the farmers of Ireland, using to the best of their ability our natural resources, should accept convergence.

“Take it from the good producing farmer and give it to where it can never be of any benefit.”

Opposed

Murphy went on to describe how convergence within the Department would effectively mean that the secretary general doesn’t deserve to be paid for the extra hours put in and the end results, but those receiving extra payment would not have to do any extra work to receive an increase in salary.

“That’s the model that the Government and the EU expect Irish farmers to accept. I cannot believe that it would still be on the table for discussion,” she said.