Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I appreciate the Chair's position but the section will penalise workers who earn €30,000 a year and whether the Minister likes it or not, that is not a huge salary when one considers many of them are young and paying huge mortgages and have significant negative equity. Interest rates will increase. I appreciate where the Government is coming from because this is the consequence of failed economic policies. Fine Gael put forward an alternative, which the Government did not take on board. How can the Minister of State justify hammering public sector workers earning €30,000? Workers in the Oireachtas are struggling. People are not sleeping at night and I am worried because the Government's economic management has failed.

The ESRI says half the Exchequer deficit is attributable to unemployment, which was caused by an over reliance on the construction industry. I appreciate the private sector has suffered a major hit. I met a friend earlier who has a business. His turnover is down 30% and his staff have taken a 6% pay cut. Allied to the cut in child benefit, it creates a gulf between the private and public sectors. What will happen in January if this section is implemented? There will be a reduction in wages, consumer spending will decrease after the sales and families will have to make choices on what to do with their money at the risk of endangering educational prospects or losing the family itself. On numerous occasions, Senator Hanafin has espoused family values. He is right and I support him on it. However, this section in particular will create discord and disharmony in families. If this section is passed I believe we have grounds to try for economic treason the Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen, the former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, and the former Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy. This is the legacy of the Minister of State's party's mismanagement. This section is very important because it is about the take-home pay-----