Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

They do not pay the pension levy. There were 860 of them. There was a list of them throughout the public service, including county managers and directors of services. They did not pay the pension levy. They were exempted from the special levy. Everyone else had to pay it. The Minister of State need not shake his head. He can go back and check it. There was a change, but it was a disgraceful message to send out to everyone else who had to take the austerity and put their shoulders to the wheel to try to pay their way and support the Government in balancing the budget. That cohort of people was allowed out.

There were cuts of €3.8 billion last year and there will probably be something similar this year. We simply cannot do it. It is not doable and we should tell the troika, the speculators and the bondholders as much. They took crazy, greedy decisions to make vast investments and they are laughing all the way to the bank. They are punch drunk with laughter because they know that they have conned us all and we are all paying for their gambling. They expected to be burned. According to the Tánaiste, Deputy Gilmore, they would be burned and hell's fire would not be as hot. This is why the people are so disgusted and annoyed. The public want the country to thrive. Parents have no wish to see their young people emigrating and their businesses disappearing in front of them. The have no wish to see the disgraceful behaviour of Allied Irish Banks and other banks which are increasing mortgages, not lending to people and trying to con the people. I am pleased that John Trethowan has finally come around and has secured some honesty from all sides. People have told him stories of the banks not lending. He is getting a little tough with them and rattling their cages somewhat. It is time the banks were exposed as well.

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