Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I acknowledge and welcome the Taoiseach's statement last night on old age pensions, senior citizens and their awards. It is important that the Government explains itself in such situations. The statement relieved many people of their worries and such simple comments are important.

In terms of understanding how people feel about the matter, many people have asked me about the day of action to be taken by unions next week. I would like people to understand that workers are trying to express a great sense of unease, anger and many other things. They have seen their salaries drop by 17% or more over the past number of months, like many workers in other sectors, and do not know where it will end. They hear from the Government that there will be further cuts. There is no certainty whatsoever. They are not sure where it is they are going. We understand better than most that such people are coming under constant despicable comment in the general media. There is a sense that people feel completely removed from the situation and that they are dealing with all the pain on their own. I do not agree that is true but it is how people feel.

We need to examine how the Government can move the situation forward. It can be moved forward. The Government has made progress in two significant areas. There is an acknowledgment that €4 billion has to be raised and that the public sector has to be reduced by some 15,000. There is also an understanding that will only create savings in two, three or four years. There is an acknowledgment that there must be a bridge to the savings which will accrue in two or three years' time. We are trying to cross that gap.

What is wrong with an emergency temporary tax rate for people earning over a certain amount of money per year in order that they can play their part? It is a fair question. It would allow the Government to go back to other workers at a lower level and say it has done that, it still does not bring in €4 billion and that the Government has to look at the unmentionables of salary and allowances.