David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not agree with these amendments. This is the typical public relations stunt to attack the salaries and pensions of Members of the Oireachtas. Whatever about the pensions of former Taoisigh, the pensions of former Members are not enormous by any means. Those who serve the country well deserve to be properly treated.

Senator Kathryn Reilly spoke about relying on the goodwill of Members. Of course, we can rely on their goodwill; politicians fall over themselves to sacrifice themselves and take pay cuts and all the rest. I was around when some of the allowances were created by the then Minister, Mr. Charlie McCreevy. It was sleight of hand because Members of the Oireachtas had decided not to accept the pay increases members of the general public were to receive. It was sleight of hand compensation for the trade unions. Civil servants had them streamed into their pay. Our pay was supposed to be linked with pay rates in the Civil Service, but that coupling was undone. I do not agree with this idea and do not think the public pays much attention to the self-sacrifice of politicians. I have said previously that if we were to strip ourselves naked, give all of our possessions to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and jump off the roof of Leinster House, the general public would be quite unimpressed. I stand alone in public in saying I think we should receive proper remuneration for the job.

On an allied subject, the allowances paid, they are a mess. The interpretation of the regulations is chaotic. Why does the Government not just consider giving Members of the Oireachtas the proper rate for the job? It should have an outside person look at our work ratios and all the rest, pay the rate for the job and cut out all of the allowances. That would cut out the controversies and we would then receive the rate for the job. In the New Year I am seriously contemplating throwing the old allowances back in the face of the Government and saying: "Keep them, they are not worth a tuppenny damn." I do not agree that Members of the Oireachtas should be sacrificed. I do not see why we should be excised from a public movement of pay restoration. Why should we? Why should Members of Parliament be exceptional in being penalised when everybody else's income will be restored gradually by the Government? Ours should be too and I say this quite openly and publicly, although I know that it will not be popular, but I do not give a damn. It is what I believe. I do not accept the amendments.