John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

A decade ago, the notion of limiting Irish citizens' access to pensions would have been declared a sacrilege. Today, the pension funds of ordinary Irish people have become fair game while the Government is attempting to work certain categories of employees until they drop by progressively raising the age of eligibility for the State pension. If the Government wishes to lead this country with any level of credibility and compassion, it cannot keep ignoring this issue. It is forcing men and women who work in labouring jobs, on small farms and in factories and hotels to work until they drop. That shows a total lack of compassion which will come back to haunt the Government in the coming years.

Members opposite can spin it any way they like but the bottom line is that the pay, expenses, allowances and severance packages - the golden handshakes - awarded to politicians and senior civil servants in this State are an absolute disgrace. They were scandalous when the country was doing well; in the current economic climate they are completely inexcusable. There has been ranting and raving from some on the benches opposite about allowances for Independent Members. If the Government comes forward with a proposal to abolish all allowances, we will support it. I challenge the Government to do so in the forthcoming budget, to do away with the €4 million and €6 million to which the parties are entitled. We are more than ready to call the Government's bluff on this matter. Members opposite are smiling away, but there is no prospect that this will actually be done. They should stop berating Independent Members for the lousy €3,000 they might receive every month, while they are running around with millions of euro every year. All of these payments should be abolished or, at the very least, vouched. Otherwise the Government should shut up about the allowance for Independent Members.

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