Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I want to give the Taoiseach some credit today. I was glad to hear him speak a piece of his mind last week. He spoke so well that he caused some type of media frenzy, a type of love-in of the words of the Taoiseach. If it was not so serious, it would be great. The fact we have more than 326,000 people out of work, that there is a crisis of confidence in the banking system and no sign of a visible plan or strategy from Government means desperation for hundreds of thousands of families. A person rang me after the Taoiseach's contribution and said that if Deputy Brian Cowen made two more speeches like that the recession would be over. If matters were not as serious as they are, that would be funny.

The Taoiseach made some fundamentally important points in that contribution, such as understanding who we are, what the national interest is, engaging, listening to people, working in solidarity and co-ordination in order to move Ireland out of the financial and economic crisis. One of the methods being adopted by Government is the pension levy. I want the Taoiseach to understand that, given the extent of the cutbacks and savings required, the Fine Gael Party agrees with the figure of €2 billion put up by the Government. All sections of society, particularly the public sector, which did not cause the problem but is being asked to pay for the majority of it, are willing to play their part in moving the economy out of the crisis caused by the mismanagement of Government over the years. It appears to me, from talking to a broad range of people, that they are prepared to play their part, but they want the system to be fair and balanced. It is clear, however, that anomalies have arisen from the Government's conclusions and the announcement of the pension levy scheme. The lower paid are being crucified as a consequence of the pension levy, and there are examples of those on higher earnings having to pay less than some on lower incomes.

In the interests of what the Taoiseach said last week about fairness, engagement, solidarity, listening and pulling the country out of the mess, does he believe the contributions now expected as a consequence of the pension levy scheme are fair and balanced?

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