Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy represents a party which for a long time did not recognise the Constitution, the State or the laws of this land. One of the laws of the land, which is still in operation, is the law regarding what pension rights actually constitute. This Government did not draw up, or allow to be drawn up, the contractual arrangements and obligations for extraordinarily high pensions for a small number of personnel in banks. That happened under a previous Administration.

In so far as the appointments made by this Government are concerned, they comply with the capping arrangements in place. I repeat for the benefit of the Deputy that the legal situation is that her pension is also a property right for her if she decides to draw it when she leaves this House or when she is removed from it in due course, which is a matter for the people to judge. It is not a case of the Government being able to say we are now reducing these pensions, because they are contractually arranged with the bank personnel for quite a number of years. Some of them have been in receipt of them.

We have made the point about premium payments and bonuses. Taxation is a matter for the Government to decide in respect of the drawing up of the budget for 2013. It is not a case of the Minister for Finance being able to say "yea" or "nay" to anybody's pension and that this is what it will be from now on. There are contractual obligations under a law drawn up, which this Administration had nothing to do with.

As far as appointments made to banks by this Government are concerned, they comply with the approval of the Minister for Finance in respect of the guidelines and caps which have been laid down. That will continue to be the case.

It is not good enough for the Deputy to speak as if she is the only one to represent the little people, as she calls them. I represent all the people of the country. We do not target sectors, as she does and as was done previously.

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