Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

Yesterday the Deputy Leader told us we would have plenty of opportunity to debate the budget and the economy over the next few weeks. All the talk is that the budget will be so severe that everything will be on the table. Will the Leader make a particular effort to ensure we look at high earners versus low earners? There is a huge difference in the day-to-day life of somebody earning €30,000 and giving up 10% of it and somebody earning €300,000 and giving up 10% of it.

There is a group of workers in this State earning very generous salaries and protected by the Constitution. I was disappointed to learn that not all have stepped up to the mark and offered a voluntary contribution. Can we debate that particular group, which I will not name? It is very disingenuous of it when it is on very generous salaries in these unprecedented times-----