Margaret Cox (Fianna Fail)

I am pleased to welcome the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to the House. The ESRI report makes interesting reading. I recognise Senator Terry's knowledge and valid concerns in this area. However, coming from a business background, one issue of concern to me is the taking away of tax reliefs on pension saving schemes or PRSAs for those working and contributing part of their salaries to matched company funding. If this cannot be provided for in future partnership, people will quite rightly revolt. Several years ago, the Tánaiste stated that if a level of expectation has been built up among people, one cannot pull the rug from under them. I pay money into a pension fund on a personal basis and provide for a pension contribution for my employees, matching it from a company point of view as part of benefits. However, if suddenly the Government tells me that such contributions will no longer be tax free, forget all talk about partnership. It will have gone out the door.