John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

Others already earmarked to be ended will be phased out more quickly. We welcome moves to reform tax on private pensions, particularly a decision to tax high lump sum pay-offs. The pension changes for higher civil servants and for those in public life are significant. They help to reduce unacceptably high costs.

I will comment on our international obligations because I do not believe it has been mentioned by any of the previous speakers. Even in these straitened times we cannot forget our continued obligations to the poorest of the world's poor. Our overseas development aid spending in 2011 will be €668.2 million.

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