Mr. Pat Mellon:

The Deputy is correct that the universal scheme is a great idea. He is also right about the issue of taxation. A problem occurs when one looks at taxation just for universal schemes. We must look at the taxation of benefits that are given to private pensions, whereby people who are on huge salaries can avail of tax breaks. It is a loss to the Exchequer at that stage and that could be more equalised. If we gave everybody a universal pension and forgot about the private pensions, there would be a saving on that. We cannot have it on both sides.