Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)

Those with no jobs or insecure jobs deserve the support of this House. I recognise that tweaking may be necessary regarding some public servants on the lower scale. I have spoken to the Minister for Finance and believe he will examine the matter. However, those on middle and higher incomes are making a contribution to their pensions and are not suffering salary reductions. The money being deducted is going into their pension funds. Most of these income earners are reasonable. I met quite a few of them last Saturday, I have spoken to them on the telephone and have received e-mails from them. They want everybody to play their part.

I suggest, particularly to the Labour Party and, to a lesser degree, Fine Gael, that we have the opportunity to get our country back on track. Inaction will let it slip further into the quagmire of financial instability. This Bill will allow us to make the savings of €2 billion, the minimum saving required at present. More savings may be required at the end of the year. Anyone who suggests a different figure is living in cloud-cuckoo-land.

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