Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

----but cannot intervene in these outrageous pension arrangements. It can write people a Dear John letter in the hope that they will voluntarily take a cut. That is the Taoiseach's contention. He cited the constitutional limitations and associated property rights.

That is a familiar tune which the Taoiseach's colleagues in government have been singing for the past year and a half. The Taoiseach knows, or at least he should know, that there are other legislative and taxation mechanisms which his Government can utilise to recoup and minimise these massive pensions. The big question is why he has not done that. I believe it is because he does not want to. He will not write to parents-----

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