Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I dtús báire, ba mhaith liom mo chomhbhrón a dhéanamh leis an Taoiseach faoi cailliúnt a mháthair. Bhí mé i Londain ag an deireadh seachtaine. Bhí mé ag smaoineamh faoin Taoiseach agus faoina chlann. Tá a fhios agam nach bhfuil sé éasca dó bheith anseo inniu.

A particular characteristic of these leaks is that they are planned ministerial leaks. They are coming from Ministers. Details of cuts in child benefit, VAT increases, huge hikes in prescription charges and community nursing home closures have been leaked. The Taoiseach has said on many occasions that all citizens are in this together. I remind him that 30 former politicians - members of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Labour Party and the Progressive Democrats - are earning pensions that are significantly in excess of €100,000. Some of them are earning an additional €3,000 for attending certain meetings. In addition, some 100 civil servants take home pensions that are in excess of €100,000. The Taoiseach knows that if an ordinary citizen - I use the word "ordinary" advisedly - won €50,000, €60,000, €70,000 or €100,000 on "Winning Streak", he or she would be over the moon. These elites take such money home every single year. It is coming out of the people's pockets. It is not the case that all of us are in this together. There are two Irelands. The Taoiseach should take this opportunity to say that the Government will cap public pensions and stop the payment of pensions to people who are still in employment. These people are still working. They have not retired. The Taoiseach should set the record straight on this issue today.

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