Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I want to acknowledge that there is legal provision for the pension and, therefore, those Deputies who are getting it are legally entitled to do so - I have no qualms about that whatsoever. I also highly commend those who have handed it back. However, those others who have not yet handed it back have a brass neck, in my view.

It is totally ironic that we are here, in the last week of this term, deliberating on a Bill aimed at cutting a meagre 25% from these ministerial pensions - this applies to Deputies and Senators who are already on very good salaries - when many workers nationwide have lost their pensions completely. It is ironic that the Government congratulates itself on its selflessness - if that is the correct word - to cut 25% off the pension when people who have paid pension contributions all their working lives find their pension benefits have dwindled. It is also ironic that workers of pension age, the most vulnerable time of life, may not be able to claim for pension funds while Members are able to claim Ministerial pensions while drawing a significant salary.

I hope the Minister will indicate if he believes the Bill represents leading by example. How can some elected representatives prioritise the recapitalisation of banks but do nothing as thousands of working people may end their lives in poverty despite having paid money to pension funds all their lives? This is not leading by example. Retaining any portion of a ministerial pension until the next general election is ludicrous. Whatever excuse these Members had to milk the cash cow while the Celtic tiger was roaring is long since gone. It is disgusting to latch onto these pensions at the height of a severe recession while 87,400 people have signed on the live register since January.

I hope some provision will be made to deal with the issue of teachers' pensions, a related matter. Although I accept that significant numbers have given up the right recently, many Members claim the teachers' pension while working here. It is obscene because in many cases they are obstructing the career paths of young teachers and preventing them from achieving their potential and from getting a full time job in the relevant school.

We have heard for some time of the commission's proposal to streamline the expenses issue, which is welcome. For whatever reason there is always a blast of publicity every January or early February when the Freedom of Information Act is used to find out Members' expenses. I have no qualms about the publication of this information at any stage but the Minister's proposal will probably streamline the process and I trust it will be more cost effective for the taxpayer. I look forward to the remainder of the debate on the Bill.

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