Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The problem with that is that it is after the event. I intend tabling an amendment on employer liability and also on the need to introduce an upper limit.

The Minister said she did not want to have to introduce this legislation. She would not have to introduce it in the way she is doing it if the Government had dealt with the wider pensions issue in terms of the €2.5 billion being spent on pension tax relief. If she had gone ahead with the undertakings given on limiting that tax relief, we would not be in a situation where she is increasing the levy on pensions, which is hitting many private sector pensioners. There were options available. There is a big pot of money available and the issue is how that is shared out. Unfortunately, the Government has not grasped the nettle in this regard and used that funding to redirect support from the State for pensions. There is an opportunity to do that but, unfortunately, it has not been taken.