Dáil debates

Thursday, 19 February 2009

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage

 

3:00 pm

Photo of Seymour CrawfordSeymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I wish to share my time with Deputy Creighton.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. It is unreal that, after 15 years of the so-called Celtic tiger, we are in a position in which we cannot meet our commitments and pay our bills. We are now asking the innocent people to carry the can while those who brought us into these circumstances walk free.

I condemn the inequitable nature of the pensions levy. It is hard for those affected to understand why they should pay while bankers and regulators walk away with hundreds of thousands of euro, and sometimes millions, in handouts. One cannot help but mention the cuts to child allowances at a time when a proportion of the fund for this purpose is being sent out of the country due to technicalities. This is completely unfair and it is no wonder people are very angry.

Section 12 relates to the farm waste management scheme. While the Government has stated there is a total of approximately €500 million to pay the 17,500 who were forced to have their farm waste management building projects completed and documented by 31 December, in real terms only an additional €300 million is needed to pay the remaining 60%.

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