Seanad debates

Tuesday, 25 March 2003

Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Second Stage.

 

Senator Mansergh read from that document. If I am not mistaken, Senator McDowell is reading it now as I speak. There is all-party agreement that it is the most important document, for it decides the future finances of this country. The Senators bring it up here before the debate and take their instructions from the unions and the employers – that is where the danger lies – on corporation tax, capital gains tax and the biggest possible item of public expenditure, public service pay. Senator Quinn touched on this matter too. For some extraordinary reason, public servants are getting a far better deal than those who work in the private sector. Why are they getting more? Why are they getting back money? Why is no one in this House prepared to say that it is wrong? The reason is that they are all scared stiff of the teachers, the nurses and all those particularly powerful unions and will not say a word against them, although most people know that the award cannot be afforded. Politicians cannot and will not stand up to those vested interests.

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