Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

What the Deputy is doing in her constant attacks on the public sector is ensuring there is a thriving private sector; she wants to destroy the basis of public sector provision of key services. I am not going to go down that road. We have a highly progressive taxation system. The marginal rate of taxation, including levies, for those earning over €100,000 is 62.5%. If we need to go higher, we should look at the matter. I do not believe someone in the public sector earning €100,000 should be treated differently from someone in the private sector earning the same amount. I do not believe a doctor providing health care should be supported in a different way in the private sector or encouraged to enter it in the way the Deputy is suggesting.

The Deputy referred to special advisers to Ministers. I do not want to spend too much time on this issue as there are specific questions on it. I set the pay norms for advisers at principal officer, PO, level.

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