Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 8:

In page 6, before section 2, to insert the following new section:

2.—The payment of any pension levy which accrues as a consequence of this Act shall not be included in any financial assessment of means for the purposes of eligibility for any state service.

This arose in our earlier discussion of people who pay the pension levy receiving family income supplement. It should be treated as a deduction from their income so those on low incomes would receive a supplement of 60 cent in the euro under the family income supplement scheme. If it is clear that means tests will be adapted, it would provide some relief and would not constitute a significant cost.

Many schemes are means tested on a net income basis, such as medical cards, family income supplement and rent supplement. It would be wholly unfair if the other Acts under which means tests are applied did not have included within them the deduction of the pension payment. Otherwise people who work in the public service would be treated unfairly in respect of means tested provisions compared to those in the private sector. These are designed to help families with specific needs, be they medical or because they are on low incomes or have family commitments. I hope the Minister accepts this or will arrange for the suitable amendment of other Acts that provide for means tests to take this into account.

See this speech in context