Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are very different and, thankfully, we are not in the same position. The very difficult circumstances for ordinary people in Greece illustrate why the Government did not follow the Greek approach. The tax free threshold for income tax has been lowered from ¤12,000 to ¤4,000 in Greece; a married couple with one earner in Ireland only enter the income tax net at ¤24,750. The number of public sector jobs cut in Greece will reach 150,000 by 2015, while public service job losses in Ireland to date have been voluntary under the Croke Park agreement. Monthly public sector pensions above ¤1,000 in Greece will be cut by 20%, while the average cut in Irish public sector pensions is 4%. We are completely different in many areas, thankfully, as a result of the Government's approach to this issue. I am entirely confident that the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance, with their negotiating skills, will eventually get a good deal for Ireland.

Senator Bacik raised the issue of Gaza. We had a debate on Gaza and will monitor the situation and debate it as part of an overall debate on the Middle East early in the new year.

Senators Mullins and Keane asked about the possible health risks of fluoridation. Senator Norris will be tabling a Private Members' motion on this topic early in the new year. As regards referring the matter to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children, I will inquire to find out what the situation is and how it has proceeded.

Senator Hayden asked about the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill. I can inform the Senator that a debate on the private rented sector with the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, has been arranged for January before the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill is debated in the House. There will be an opportunity for the Senator to raise the matter with the Minister of State before the Bill is brought to the Seanad.

Senator Norris asked about the university (amendment) Bill. I have no information about that Bill; it is not imminent on the Government list but I will ask for more information for the Senator. I also note the Senator's comments on the Aran Islands.

Senator Cullinane called for the resignation of the Minister for Health. This is another cynical exercise by Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin, calling for the Minister to resign.