Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)

I have no problem with the proposed amendment. Many people will vote for it and I am confident it will be passed overwhelmingly. I cannot think of anybody who would vote against it, aside from our esteemed, politically appointed ladies and gentlemen on the Bench who, of course, are not defending inflated salaries and privilege but their integrity and independence.

However, is all this example-setting by people at the top not something of a con? To what level will judges' pay be cut? Will it be to the level of the Taoiseach's pay? At approximately €200,000 per year their salaries are six times the average industrial wage. The cuts in salaries for Ministers, Deputies and top civil servants are pure tokenism.

Cutting €20,000 per year off the salary of the Taoiseach or a judge does not place them in hardship but a cut of a few euro per week is a huge problem for someone on social welfare. A real example would be to introduce a cap of €100,000 on all salaries and pensions paid by the State, including those of judges. This would still be three times the average industrial wage and almost ten times the income of a family on welfare. A tax of 70% on individual incomes above €100,000 in the private sector should accompany this measure. These would be real measures and people would see that this Government is tackling the issue. This could make a start in reducing some income inequality in our society where the top 20% of income earners receive four times the income of the bottom 20%. This must be addressed. People are overwhelmed by the poverty in which they have found themselves in recent times. People have lost their homes, etc.

The Government seems intent on increasing inequality with the dismantling of protection for 260,000 workers covered by the JLCs and the attempt to delay for six months the implementation of the EU directive on equal pay and conditions for the 35,000 agency workers in our economy. SNA teachers are being cut in schools where they are badly needed. People have been asked to put their hands in their pockets but the Government should examine its conscience and reverse the decision in regard to SNAs.

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