Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)

I refer to how this decision was arrived at by the Taoiseach and the Government and what this indicates about their attitude to democracy, the people we represent and our political system. A week prior to the announcement of the levy, the Taoiseach told the Opposition in this House that it was his way or the highway. The levy details were presented to the unions at the 11th hour and they were told to "take it or leave it". Until then, we had months of divide and rule during which public sector workers were demonised and dehumanised. The Government's allies such as IBEC and right wing economists and media commentators bashed public servants because they have a vested interest. IBEC made the most ridiculous suggestion by saying the solution to our economic problems was to put more people on the dole.

It is telling that the Taoiseach's first significant speech was to Dublin businessmen and not to the people. We have had an absentee Taoiseach for the past few months and we have had government by press conference and tips offs to journalists. The Oireachtas has not had a genuine opportunity to contribute to the debate on the decision and there is no belief in or solidarity with the Government. No pain was experienced by the Government or the Taoiseach, in particular, when thrashing out this proposal to make sure it was fair by dealing with anomalies, solving problems, involving all stakeholders, achieving consensus, persuading people and bringing them on board. That was not part of the Government's plan. The entire process is an indictment of Fianna Fáil and the Government's attitude to democracy, the political system and the people we represent.

I received a copy of the Public Sector Times earlier. The Taoiseach stated in an article, with the decision having been made, that it was only fair. We voted on the fair deal legislation earlier. The Government has taken the attitude that if it says something is fair, it is fair when obviously it is the opposite. It is not news that the Government parties do not believe in fairness. Tax cuts favoured the most well off in our society and they promoted land speculation. The cutbacks in recent budgets hit those who could least afford them such as people with disabilities, those living in disadvantaged areas and pensioners.

The Minister for Finance was quoted in today's newspapers regarding the anomalies associated with the levy and he admitted that low paid public servants would be hit hardest but his attitude was that is just the way it is. Nothing will be done with the money taken from these workers. There is no plan in that regard with vague promises having been made.

I was a clerical officer in the VEC and the Dublin Institute of Technology. It was reported earlier that two thirds of public sector workers earn less than €50,000 annually. Many of them are not well paid and they work hard dealing with the public. I received an e-mail from a clerical officer in a social welfare office. He referred to the sea of worried faces he must deal with every day. Unfortunately, he cannot help many of them but he is now doing the job of two people because of the significant increase in queues at his office.

The Government had months to negotiate the levy and to plan, persuade and achieve a consensus because tax reform and a recovery plan were needed. The ICTU came up with a recovery plan but the Government could not do so. Work schemes could have been put in place and we could have done what the US, Germany and other states are doing by investing in badly needed infrastructure while regenerating the economy. People were prepared to play their part. For example, those interviewed for a Newstalk vox pop on the day the levy was announced said they knew they would have to suffer some pain and they were prepared to take it as long as the levy was fair. That goodwill was squandered by the Government parties because they have lost touch with the people and they are no longer democratic. They have damaged the political system, social partnership and, at the end of the day, they have damaged themselves. They will rue the day they did this.

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