Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

There was a report in the newspapers today that ESB workers will take a two year pay freeze, and will not receive the 2.5% pay instalment due in June. What is the Taoiseach's view of corporate governance in the ESB, when the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources only heard of the acceptance of the 3.5% increase from the media? Does the Taoiseach regret that the pay increases were awarded in September, in view of the fact that the financial crisis has worsened considerably since then?

The Taoiseach commented last week that he would listen attentively if there was a tweaking of the pension levy proposals that might bring the unions back onside. A number of those union personnel were quite upset at being put in the position of being decision makers, when they were not elected so to be, even though their contribution has been important.

Has the Taoiseach made contact with the unions in respect of any tweaking on the pension levy proposal? If he has made such contact, has there been any response? Is he considering the idea of looking at the lower paid members of the public sector when evaluating the pension levy? Many of those members will be required to pay a pension levy for a pension that they will effectively never receive, as they will be entitled to the State contributory pension in any event. This is causing a great deal of anger and pressure on the families of thousands of those workers.

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