Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

The matter she mentioned will be addressed by regulation and a regulation to that effect will be submitted to Government shortly. The halving of the salary of members of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission does not require legislation.

I thank everyone who spoke for their constructive and thoughtful contributions. The background to the legislation is the very difficult economic situation in which, collectively and individually, we find ourselves. Regardless of the fact that the savings to be made will be, comparatively, a drop in the ocean in terms of the problem we face, it is nonetheless important that such a contribution is made out of solidarity.

Senator Twomey raised the question of peoples' expectations and that receiving long-term increments could perhaps have created potential legal rights. Legally, practically anything can be challenged and to say something can be challenged does not necessarily say a whole lot, because even the most clear-cut issues are sometimes challenged in court. In the situation we are in, we cannot be constrained by what peoples' expectations were. The reality of the current situation means we all have to lower our expectations.

It is correct to say, and several speakers made the point, that pension arrangements for Members of the Oireachtas are very generous. I had dinner with my son who has received an MBA and works in the pensions industry. He made the point that Members' pensions are as good as one will receive anywhere. We should not be under any illusion about that.

There was much discussion about long service increments. It is important to remember that such increments for Oireachtas Members were introduced relatively recently, in 2001. Arguments can made for both sides. There may be something to be said for the notion of equality, that is, whether Members of the Oireachtas have been elected for a short period or a relatively long period of time.

Not all of us understand how long service increments work in this House and the Civil Service. Members do not receive annual increments, but after seven years receive the first long service increment and after ten years, until now, receive the second long service increment. Civil servants receive annual increments up to a certain point and after that it levels off. After three years at the maximum level of salary, they receive their first long service increment and after six years on maximum salary receive a second long service increment.

Points were also made on bonuses. As I said before, when I was a member of the Civil Service there were no bonuses of any kind. For example, during the first Irish Presidency one could work very long hours seven days a week, but one did not get paid anything extra. To be frank, I have a certain nostalgia for that type of egalitarian system, rather than having a system which has a "one for everyone in the audience" approach.

Senator Cassidy made the point that it is temporary employment and after I was elected by a very small margin I was told by a person to enjoy my tenancy. I liked that remark. Both Senators Cassidy and Keaveney spoke of the success of the committees and the savings to taxpayers. It was said that people should be proud of their profession but I do not think this necessarily must be linked to increments, pensions, bonuses and so on.