Phil Prendergast (Labour)

I welcome the news that the social partners are to reconvene for discussions on the economy. However, I wish to place on record the fact that the outcome of these discussions will have no moral standing, particularly if they fail to address the completely unfair cuts to public sector pay. The contribution that has been deducted from the salaries of public sector workers, on foot of legislation passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas, must be taken into account in any financial formula that is arrived at in the discussions.

The unions were right to walk away from the process because they were not given adequate time to consider the implications of the pension levy. When it was put forward initially, what was on the table was called the national economic recovery plan and the pay cut to be imposed on public and civil servants was intended to save €1.4 billion. The latter figure was eventually reduced to €900 million. It now appears that public sector workers in semi-State bodies will not be subject to the cut, so there will be a further reduction of €160 million.

The imposition of the pension levy on retained firefighters must be discontinued. These individuals have been subjected to the levy, even though they do not receive pensions. The levy must also be removed from all workers who do not benefit from public service pensions. In addition, we must end the anomalies which have led to some workers on lower rates of pay losing more money than those earning €10,000 more than them. There should be far larger cuts in respect of certain individuals — for example, those earning €300,000 whose salaries will be reduced to €270,000 — because what is in place at present does not constitute sharing the pain.

I welcome the initiative under which 27,000 transition year students are to be trained in CPR. Clonmel is a HeartSafe town and is the only town in Ireland on which this status has been conferred. Under the HeartSafe programme, some 15 automated external defibrillator, AED, machines are located throughout the town and ten different people are trained to use each machine. I am the chairperson of the programme and I call on the Leader to ensure that all public servants and Members of this House should be trained in the art of CPR. As public representatives, community leaders and individuals who are quite often involved in addressing large groups of personnel, it is important that Members should lead by example. Transition year students who avail of the programme——