Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Two days ago the Taoiseach announced a pension levy on incomes, which will affect approximately 400,000 employees in the public service, and told us there would be legislation to give effect to this measure. I asked him yesterday when that legislation would be published. He did not give me a specific time but indicated it would be soon.

I am sure the Tánaiste is aware that there is very considerable anger and confusion among the employees who will be affected by this levy. In the absence of legislation there does not seem to be a great deal of clarity about how it will apply to them. We are told, for example, that it will apply on gross income. Does that mean it will apply to payments other than basic pay, such as overtime for a nurse who fills in over a busy weekend in accident and emergency? Does it apply to a soldier in Chad? Yesterday, the Minister for Defence could not tell the House whether this levy will apply to the special allowances that are paid to our soldiers serving abroad.

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