Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I will put it another way. What would have been said if we had awarded ourselves a 4% payment? For example, civil servants employed before 1995 make a contribution and get a very marginal gain. They get a pro rata State pension and that depends on whether one has ordinary contributions. If we had said we were to get an A rate pension in return for a payment of 4% it would be said we had done it for our own gain, that we always look after ourselves very well and why should someone get a Deputy's pension and a State pension.

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