Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

The perception of the public is that the inconsistency should not be there.

There should also be consistency for the higher paid in the public sector. Fine Gael proposed that full pension entitlement should be abolished for sitting Members but the Government has sought otherwise and plans to introduce a reduction of 25%. Will the Minister explain the legal basis for this? What legislation has determined this position? The key point is the Government is required to show consistency in terms of reductions for pension holders regardless of the office held. We await the amendments on Committee Stage from the Minister to see how the legislation will come into effect.

See this speech in context