Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

We would appreciate if the trim being given to former taoisigh and top civil servants was in the same vein as the short back and sides or a No. 1 blade haircut being given to people on lower incomes around the country. It is an optical illusion and it is a disgrace that the Government has not gone further. We have called for a debate on ministerial perks and pensions and the amount of money paid to top civil servants and I call again for such a debate. The poor former Taoiseach, Mr. Brian Cowen, is taking a hit of €4,000 and so he must survive on a pension of €147,000. Mr. John Bruton will have to survive on a pension of €138,000 and Mr. Dick Spring will have to survive on a pension of €119,000.