Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response, the last paragraph of which is most telling. First and foremost, I will be exercising my right, following a High Court case, to be moved to class S. Second, I object to this nonsense about "generous Exchequer funded salaries and pensions". My pension, were I to lose my seat at the next election, is the princely sum of €8,000. However, because I am a teacher my pension will be on the single pension scheme so there is no "generous" pension for me. The Government must deal with the problem it has with other class K contributors who have unearned income like shareholders, people who have rental income and the like. I have no terms and conditions of employment; nor have any of my colleagues. We are officers of the State. I assure the Minister and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection that if they think I am going to sit down under this, they can think again. If I have to go back to the High Court, I will do so and by God, the next time I go back, they will pay dearly for it.

This is an outrageous statement on the part of the Department. I appreciate that this is not from the Minister for Education and Skill's Department but it is outrageous. There are young people in these Houses whose PRSI records are being destroyed. The departmental reply refers to "generous Exchequer funded salaries and pensions" which is a load of poppy cock. We all know that the days of great pensions in the civil and public service, particularly for elected members, are long gone. If anyone thinks I am going to take this nonsense, he or she can think again. I will be back on this one. I am sorry for giving it to Deputy McHugh between the eyes. He is the Minister for Education and Skills and it is to him I will be going when I finish up in this House. Half of my teacher's pension is made up of my class A PRSI contributions but my contribution record has been broken by the Oireachtas class K designation. I have no idea where my teacher's pension will end up as a result of this so rock on - I am on the way back on this one.