John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It will not be done because the Government parties would lose millions. That is enough of that.

The RTE documentary "Too Broke to Retire", broadcast last Monday, made for highly discomforting viewing for everybody in this House. How can we as public representatives stand by these exorbitant pay-outs while so many pensioners who worked hard of all their lives in anticipation of a comfortable retirement are struggling to make ends meet as they face into the hardship of further cutbacks in the coming budget? The programme included interviews with former Waterford Crystal workers who paid into pension funds for 30 or 40 years and have nothing to show for it. Many of them are already facing a pension age gap because of the increase in the age of eligibility for the State pension, a change which Age Action Ireland estimates could result in an annual income deduction of up to €1,5000 for some people for the rest of their lives. There is no compassion from the Government for those affected, no compassion for workers who gave 30 or 40 years of their life only to be left with nothing. That is inexcusable, unacceptable and disgraceful.

In the face of such injustice, it is simply wrong that we continue to bleed the public purse so that former Ministers can receive multiple pensions. These pensions are completely unrelated to age or even time in office, an arrangement which would not be permitted in any other country. This injustice is compounded by the fact that the ministerial pension scheme does not involve any deductions from salary.

What has happened to Ministers of former Governments, including some Labour Party members, would not be acceptable in any other country. Protecting the pensions of public servants, regardless of income, means that spending cuts are falling on the weakest members of society. That is exactly what the Government is doing.

The rise in the qualifying age for the State pension will hit hardest those working in the private sector. They will be totally reliant on social welfare payments in the pension. As it is, the pension funds on which private pensions depend have been badly hit. With the economic cost of public sector pensions rising, they are beginning to exceed 100% of all income taxes collected from the private sector.

We are told the Government is unable to do anything about people with large pensions and those who walked off with big handshakes. The Taoiseach mentioned that today and he spoke about self-regulation. We are able to do it to workers by introducing the universal social charge. Nobody in the country believes the Government cannot bring in legislation to remove some of the payments and pensions being made to former politicians. While I am not blaming this Government, it should not tell the people it cannot do this, because it can.

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