Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

The Minister said there are no unfair elements to the pension levy but there are two. The first relates to the lower paid. Does the Minister consider it fair that a single person working in the public service earning €25,000 will only qualify for the contributory old age pension and will get no benefit from 5% of the contribution he or she is making to the public sector?

Does the Minister consider it fair that a married person who is the sole earner on approximately €45,000 a year who will qualify for the contributory old age pension will get no benefit from the 7.2% gross he or she is paying?

A single person earning €40,000 a year will make a net payment of 3.7% even though he or she pays 7% gross. Is it fair that a married person who is the sole earner will pay the same gross but he or she will pay 5.2%, which is a higher net payment?

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