Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the context of any savings that had to be effected, I said that in real financial terms they were not large as they affected any individual, but the approach was that the new financial arrangements would have a greater impact on those who were better paid than on those who were lesser paid. I do not know if the Deputy is suggesting that those who are paid less should have been hit to a greater extent, because that is not my view.

If the Deputy's party had not destroyed the fiscal base of this country we would not be in this situation in the first place. We would be in a position whereby, instead of talking about having to reduce resources in a number of areas or, indeed, reduce or contain allowances or salaries, we would possibly be seeing individuals doing a good deal better than they are. The Deputy should not forget that his party practically made this country bankrupt. We are in receipt of €12 billion in aid this year from the ECB-IMF-EU and, without that, we would not be in a position to pay front-line workers the salaries or allowances they will get this year. Indeed, we would not be in a position to maintain 9,500 members of the Defence Forces, let alone look at the possibility of recruiting additional members this year, having already recruited 600 new members last year.

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