Margaret Conlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this matter. Like many other Members, in 2007 I ran for election for the first time. I was honoured to be asked to put myself forward and I was equally honoured to be elected. My motivation in seeking election had nothing to do with money. I already had a good, secure and pensionable job with which I was happy. My motivation then - it remains the same now - revolved around a desire to assist people and represent them at national level to the best of my abilities. Like Deputy Seán Power, I consider it a privilege and an honour to be a Member of this House. When I was elected I had no idea of the level of salary I would receive.

Since the 2007 election, things have changed dramatically. Unemployment is rising, there are difficulties with the banks and we are in the midst of the worst economic recession the country has faced. Everyone, without exception, is feeling the pinch. Families have made sacrifices and for many, getting by on a daily basis represents a major challenge. Deputies have also made sacrifices. The media and members of the public do not appear to be aware of this. As Deputy Creighton stated, we were also subjected to the pension levy, our expenses have been reduced, our increments and allowances for committee work have been abolished and the allowances for chairing committees have been halved. In addition, the income levy introduced this year means that our permanent salaries have been reduced.

Like all other workers, we have played our part. I am not making a song and dance about that fact and I am not stating that we should not have accepted the changes that were made. We need to continue to show leadership. All I am doing is placing the facts on record.

I agree that the issue of ministerial pensions should be debated. However, it should be discussed in this House in a reasoned and balanced manner and not on the airwaves or in the print media. Some thought and consideration must be given to the individuals involved and their personal circumstances. No one knows what circumstances might obtain in another individual's family life or in his or her home.

Many Members have already made a voluntary gift of their pensions to the State. They did so in the absence of any populist headlines or fanfare. I wish to acknowledge that fact and also the contribution these people have made to the Exchequer. I listened to the contribution by the Minister for Finance and I must acknowledge that he considered every possible option in respect of ministerial pensions. However, he was advised by the Attorney General that it was not possible to coerce people into surrendering such pensions. It would be foolhardy of any Government to ignore legal advice. The Attorney General stated that to end pension payments for people who have clear rights to such pensions would be to discriminate against them and would also be unconstitutional. The Government has legislated, in a reasoned and proportionate way, to reduce ministerial pensions now and to eliminate them following the next general election.

If I were a very wealthy woman - I am not - and could come to work in the House each day but collect no salary and perhaps even make a financial contribution as I came through the front door, would people be happy? What message would it send to the public that only wealthy individuals have an entitlement to represent the people in this House or that only the former could perform a legislative function? That would be a dreadful message to send out. Everyone has a right to aspire to hold political offices if that is what he or she wishes to do. If only the wealthy were in a position to be Members of the House, that would be to the detriment of political life. I, for one, would not be a Member in such circumstances.

Every Member of this House works extremely hard. It is only when one works here among other elected representatives that one sees how hard people work. I am of the view that every Member of the House has integrity and possesses a genuine desire to make a contribution to society and to political life. Members are decent people who want to do good for those they represent. In recent months, however, there has been a lowering of the tone in respect of political life. It is sad that politicians and politics are being demeaned. What have we done to ourselves?

I recently saw a headline in a local newspaper which stated that I was in receipt of a six-figure pension. That was news to me and I was startled when my husband inquired with regard to where I was hiding all the money. I will not be entitled to a pension until I reach the age of 68. If people in the print media are going to run with a story, will they please ensure that their facts are correct? If they get the facts wrong, that does nothing to aid the cause of Members.

I am extremely saddened by the fact that Members appear to have lost all respect for each other during the wider debate on this matter. That is most regrettable.

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