Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)

Does the Minister agree that the cut of 7% in the incomes of public sector workers as a result of the pension levy together with the universal social charge were a gross injustice, given that whatever flaws there may be in the public service, it was not public sector workers who created the economic crisis? In the context of pay, public sector workers have taken a massive hit with the result that many cannot meet their mortgage repayments and are struggling and it would be of great comfort to them to know they will not be faced with a further hit? As Deputy Mary Lou McDonald stated, the Minister outlined that there would be no tax increases or social welfare cuts, one would say there would be a fear that public sector workers might yet again be a target for possible cuts or diminutions in their conditions. I wish to ask a straight question, as it is not clear from the answer to the question, given that public sector workers have already paid the pension levies to give them their entitlements to a pension, will the age that public sector workers retire be retained or raised in line with that proposed for other workers? Does the Minister intend to raise the age of retirement for public sector workers and must they work for a longer period, having already paid the levies?

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