Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

It is very interesting to listen to people with different views.

There are two types of public representatives. One is full-time and works on a full-time basis and at nothing else. The other works part-time. The Minister is endeavouring to pay both the same salary. A Deputy who goes to the Law Library or who has a medical practice is paid as though he were a full-time politician. Are farmers full-time politicians? If one is trying to attract people into politics to act on a full-time basis one must take into account the role of a public representative. In the Oireachtas there is a variety of people, some of whom are full-time. As one coming to the end of my political career, I think this is a retrograde step to introduce harsh measures while failing to distinguish between a full-time and part-time public representative.

I listened to Deputy Varadkar. Other people in this House are getting public service pensions, which they will continue to receive. Should farmers cease to be entitled to EU grants because they are public representatives? Should doctors who are public representatives not receive payment for GMS patients?

I was a Whip when Members were on the verge of bankruptcy after three general elections. We fought for a situation which would not allow for the possibility of people taking backhanders for doing their job. We established a system of paying Oireachtas Members a proper salary linked to a certain public service grade so that a Deputy received an increase if the equivalent public service grade received one. If the public servant has to pay a levy the Deputy pays a levy. That is how it is and that it how is should be left.

With regard to the long service increment, there is no profession in the world which pays someone who has been doing a job for 30 years the same as someone who joined two years ago. What will happen to existing pensioners who had a long service increment and receive 50% of a Deputy's salary. Will they be docked €3,000? A Deputy whose salary, with a ten year long service increment, is €106,000 would be entitled to a pension of €53,000. If the long service increment is removed will the pension be correspondingly reduced to €53,000? The Minister is nodding his head but this does not make sense. Will the pension be 50% of a previous salary or not? The legislation makes no provision for situations such as this.

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