Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I, too, wish to object to the taking of this legislation by guillotining all remaining Stages by 10.30 p.m. tonight. The Bill, the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill, is misnamed. It proposes to introduce a public services pension levy. It is not a levy in respect of public service pensions but a tax on public service, which is totally objectionable.

What the Taoiseach is proposing to do is further close down one of the critical areas that must be addressed if we are to see true national partnership in operation once again. The Taoiseach said earlier this morning that everything must be on the table. Everything must be on the table regarding this proposition by the Government and the devastating consequences it spells out for people in public service across all areas, from nurses to gardaí, teachers and all of the various sectors——

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