Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

In the first instance, I am not sure which thesaurus the Deputy consulted this morning to find a definition of the word "Tory". He has had many dealings with the Tories and was not afraid to take their money when it was needed for good causes in Northern Ireland.

The Government has not been afraid to tackle a situation which has developed over quite a number of years and whereby extraordinary pensions were paid to a small number of specific personnel. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, has at least had the courage to begin a process of reduction. As a result, pensions in excess of €60,000 are being adjusted by 12% and those in excess of €100,000 are being adjusted by 20%. I note that the savings in this regard are of the order of €400,000. From the type of ranting in which the Deputy engages one would get the impression that if payment were stopped in respect of all pensions over €100,000, our national financial crisis would be resolved. We have a Constitution under which people have specific rights. The Government has made a decision, as the first step in a broad process, to adjust pensions of over €100,000 by 20% and those over €60,000 by 12%. This has never been done before.

This is just one of the decisions the Government has taken in respect of higher-paid public servants. The highest level of remuneration for such public servants is now €200,000 per year. In the past two days, the last remaining chief executive of a commercial State body who was earning over that amount took a voluntary pay cut.

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