Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I wish to share time with Deputies Timmins and Crawford.

Deputy Conlon outlined how the Opposition should behave in a responsible fashion but in the past five or six years we pointed out that Government spending was unsustainable. We had responsible opposition but the Government took no responsibility. The boom and bust policies of the past seven years, not the 1980s, are a major contributory factor to the position in which we find ourselves.

I object to the content of the motion which is unfair and unbalanced, particularly as it affects low paid public servants who will only be in receipt of the State contributory pension when they retire. It is totally unfair to ask those on such a low income to contribute to address something that is completely not of their making. I accept spending cuts of €2 billion are needed but an across the board levy should not have been introduced. The cuts should have been approached in a manner that would have placed a greater burden on higher earners. Many who entered the public service in recent years are contributing at a higher rate to their pensions but they are being asked to carry an additional burden. Fine Gael's amendment objects to what we perceive to be an unfair levy and we are seeking to have it renegotiated to redistribute the burden.

Many are losing jobs in the private sector. As I stated in the House prior to the Christmas recess, anyone who feels his or her job is secure is lucky. Those who have been let go face significant mortgage repayments and have no idea how they will meet them. We need to focus on those who are unemployed or whose jobs are threatened. The haemorrhage of jobs in the private sector is a serious issue and I wish we had heard something from the Taoiseach yesterday about how the Government will address it. We heard nothing and the Government's only approach is to cut and slash pay without a mention of increasing productivity and reducing wastage and bureaucracy in the public sector. I am member of the Committee of Public Accounts which is preparing a report following hearings into non-adherence to procurement policies in FÁS.

I have spoken to many constituents today and the fact that the heaving bureaucracy attached to this House, its committees and Ministers of State was not addressed is driving people insane. It should have been addressed first or in tandem with the cutbacks. We heard nothing about it which is a sad reflection on the Government whose attitude is to cut and carry on regardless. I support the Fine Gael amendment which is much more constructive than the Government motion and which addresses the issues we are facing.

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