Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I acknowledge the Minister's intent in this proposal. In many ways what is before us is welcome, as is the fact the Minister has taken a decision to tackle the obscene pensions that exist, and that a message is being sent out. However, the message is too late and too little.

In her amendment, Deputy McDonald proposes a greater message to be sent out to the public. Earlier the Minister attended a committee where part of the discussion concerned how to regain some of the crust on top of society. Given what has happened in the Chamber in the past two weeks in regard to the budget, the public has looked for leadership and for decisions to be taken that would tackle the level of obscene pensions that we see in this State, those for people at the highest level in the public service and the Civil Service.

I reiterate my acknowledgment that the Minister is moving in the right direction but I do not believe he has gone far enough. A levy of 100% on those with pensions of more than €100,000 would be fair given the financial constraints we, as a society, face. If the pre-budget submissions my party made concerning wage scales of public servants or of those paid from the public purse were followed, society would begin to regain trust in the public service and in politicians in general. The message would go out that those who are richer and richest in society would take some of the burden. We do not claim these people are not entitled to a pension but a pension of €100,000 is a substantial amount. Being taxed on that level would still place them well above the great majority of Irish citizens who are on an average industrial wage of €30,000 to €35,000. A considerable number of people are not even on a wage and survive on social welfare payments.

I urge the Minister, even at this late stage, to reconsider this. Savings can be made even if, as Deputy McDonald noted, these are modest. There are other steps, however, that could be taken. For instance, we suggested hospital consultants' pay should be examined. It can be claimed it has been addressed but only in a small way. A reduction of up to €150,000 would save the State €100 million. A further reduction of €100,000 would make an even greater saving. These are the type of measures we as a society need to take when addressing public and civil servants' pay at the highest level. It would send out the message that those on this type of salary would be hit with greater amounts than those dependent on social welfare or on low pay.

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