Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I raise the same issue. It must be addressed. We are facing strike action throughout the country after two and a half decades of being the country with the best record in Europe in terms of the lowest number of strikes per year, growing productivity in almost every year of the last 15 until 18 months ago and good industrial relations. That is all fragmenting in front of us. I cannot answer the questions I am being asked. I cannot explain to a person in the public sector on €25,000 per year why he is paying more than if he were in the private sector. He is paying more than the level he or she would pay in the private sector to receive the normal superannuated pension, which would be more or less the same as the €12,000 he would get in the private sector. I cannot explain to workers why people who are earning more than €90,000, €100,000 or €200,000 per year are not being asked to pay anything extra if they are in the private sector. I do not understand the thinking behind it.

I do not accept the idea that this is a public sector versus private sector issue. For me, it is quite simple. If we must pay, we must pay but — the last time I raised this the Leader did not address it in his response — people earning big money in safe, secure jobs in the private sector should also pay their share. This is not happening and it cannot be explained to ordinary workers. We will be faced with embarrassment everywhere, difficulties, production breakdowns, loss to industry and damage to the image of the country. If the Government intends to make some moves on this, as it appears to be indicating it will, it should sit down with the social partners to ask what can and cannot be done. It should also meet with the Opposition and discuss the matter in the Houses. It should recognise that if movement is to be made, it should be as part of a wider scheme. I ask that there be further engagement on these issues.