Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

We received the speech of the Minister of State, Deputy Carey. There is a gross inconsistency in the cases of people on very high pay although I do not in any way impugn the integrity of judges. However, if one looks at the third page of the Minister of State's speech, he states, concerning to whom the pay cut will apply: "In order to pin down this issue, therefore, the Minister for Finance published amendments last night to the draft Bill to clearly define who is affected by the pay reduction by linking it to their access to a public service pension scheme". Clearly, the relevant amendments are Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 8.

The speech continues: "The rule of thumb therefore will be if one is affected by the pension levy the reduction to the rates of pay will also apply." An effective interpretation of the amendment would be in respect of which a public service pension scheme exists or applies or may be made. That appears to be inconsistent with the fact there might be people in part-time or temporary employment or temporary full-time employment who do not qualify under the pension schemes, such as teachers. The Minister of State and Chief Whip, Deputy Carey, said the pay cut will apply only if the pension levy applies. Will the Minister of State clarify this point?

Once again it goes back to the lower paid. The Minister of State still has not answered my very simple straightforward question, the one being asked by the ordinary public servant. If an exemption was given under the pension levy, why is the Government not extending that to the pay cut, in terms of consistency and fairness? What was the Government's thinking? Was it just a crude measure containing no policy and no thinking, the result of sitting down two days before the budget and asking,"What will get us the money in the quickest possible way?"

Governments are there to lead and bring people along collectively, not to divide and conquer, an agenda this budget clearly pushes, particularly with regard to a division between the public and private sectors, especially the lower paid.

Will the Minister of State deal with the inconsistencies, namely, what the Minister of State, Deputy Carey said less than two hours ago in this Chamber and what the Minister of State said just now?

See this speech in context