Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Obviously, in respect of the matters raised, it is necessary to proceed with this Bill today in order that it be enacted in the Dáil. It is part of the €4 billion in savings that must be provided for in the budget. It gives effect to them and must be implemented to have a full-year effect. The simplest way in the legislation to define a person for the purposes of this is to have a rule of thumb whereby if one is affected by the pension levy reductions in the rates of pay would also apply. It is to link-----

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