DÁIL SKETCH:THE SENSITIVE file is currently gathering dust in the Department of Finance, but a copy will surely be included in Brian Cowen's briefcase when he moves next door to the Department of the Taoiseach.
He knows it will be dusted down in September, when its contents are considered by his ministers and himself.
The file, which is exercising Opposition minds, contains the details of the proposed ministerial increases. They were deferred from last year, until September, amid a storm of controversy.
If the increases had been accepted at the time, as was the initial Cabinet decision, the Taoiseach's salary would have increased by €38,000 to €310,000, making him Europe's best-paid leader. Senior and junior Ministers would also have received a windfall.
Back then, Bertie Ahern complained that he did not have yachts, private planes and summer residences like some of his European contemporaries. His ministers winced.
When Cowen was questioned on the issue yesterday, he showed little appetite for a vigorous debate.
He was tetchy and defensive, pointing to the independence of the pay group which made the recommendation.
Fine Gael's Richard Bruton said that Cowen had spoken for many when he stressed the need for greater productivity and pay restraint in the next social partnership round.
"The Government recently increased the number of Ministers of State by three and the number of Oireachtas committees by three," said Bruton.
"An order is soon to be made whereby Ministers will receive huge increases in pay without regard to performance and productivity, including the Tánaiste, who will be due €38,000 if he is then taoiseach."
Cowen, under pressure for an answer, remarked that the Government had not revisited the matter since the deferral decision was taken.
Labour's Joan Burton questioned what moral authority the Government would have left if Ministers took the pay hike.
Cowen said independent bodies had been making pay recommendations for 40 years. The increases had already been granted to groups such as the judiciary "to make sure we have good, qualified people in those important positions".
Fine Gael's Kieran O'Donnell argued that it would be hypocrisy for Cowen to urge restraint and fail to lead by example.
Cowen spoke of the hypocrisy of making populist arguments, the implication being that the taoiseach-designate had never resorted to political populism in his 24-year career.
So what happens in September? Will the new taoiseach feel that his chosen ministers - no doubt "good, qualified people in those important positions" - deserve the increases? And what, by the way, of some element of productivity to justify the increases? Fine Gael's PJ Sheehan asked if Cowen, unlike the outgoing Taoiseach, would come into the Dáil on Thursdays when he takes over his new job.
"Absolutely not," he replied.
