Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I wish to speak on the very serious issue of the pensions levy.

The measures required to deal with the current economic crisis must be based on the principles of fairness and equity. Those who contributed most to the crisis should be required to contribute most to its solution. People should be asked to contribute according to their ability to pay. I deplore the attempt to scapegoat public service workers and to create divisions between those who work in the public and private sectors.

I attended meetings last week with Members from Counties Leitrim and Roscommon. There was anger among workers who have given great service to the country and who feel let down and neglected by this Government. I wish to read into the record one of more than 1,000 e-mails and letters which my office has received in the past three weeks conveying the anger of normally law-abiding people. It states:

I am a clerical officer in [a] motor tax office . . . I am contacting you in relation to the recent imposition of a pensions levy on my salary. This levy will introduce a grossly unreasonable burden on my finances.

At present my take home pay is approximately €440 a week far below the kind of wages the government refers to when discussing public service [salaries]. The financial position of the majority of public servants has been misrepresented to the general public who [believe] we all earn upwards of €30000 [a year].

I have a mortgage, personal loans and substantial childcare costs. My [partner's] employment is not secure given the economic conditions and even with both incomes increases in insurance, motor tax, salary levy to name but a few represent a major challenge to us.

I [previously worked] for the private sector and had superior pay, health cover and pension plan.

I chose to join the public sector for job security and financial security despite a net loss in salary of €4500 at the time. I have been betrayed by the government and any party that endorses [inequitable] cuts in my take home pay. . .

It is your duty to ensure that you do [your] upmost to protect the economy but not by [excessively] reducing the take home pay of public sector workers without [regard] for the contribution that everyone who remains employed through these difficult times could make.

This levy must be reconsidered and [adjusted] to distribute the cost most fairly.

I have met hundreds of public sector workers who believe there is a campaign by this Government to outline a position that they are protected and cosseted. This message is wrong and, under bench marking two, they were deprived increases of up to 12.5% on the basis that the State was providing a pension for them and, as a consequence, they found themselves with less money, and they now face this inequitable measure. Each one is put to the pin of his or her collar to manage family budgets.

Our policy should not be one of a class war between the public and private sectors. More than 160,000 people have been made unemployed in the past year and our thoughts are with them. We need to come up with solutions, but tackling the public sector, which has been very loyal to this country, is not the way to do so. We need a plan and a roadmap from this Government, which cannot be ham-fisted, to get us out of this problem.

Fine Gael has long argued that the only way to restore confidence in the country is a root and branch reform of the way Government does its business. We need to break up the cosy relationship between Fianna Fáil, the big banks, the developers, the regulators and senior public servants which has concealed waste and the failures of this Government and destroyed the fundamentals of our economy.

I am very concerned that unless the Government acts fairly and reasonably, there could be blood on the streets. This is a law-abiding nation, but I have never witnessed such anger. The Government must climb down from its ivory tower and treat the people who work in this country with respect and dignity and ensure this situation is redressed.

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