Pension Levy to Be Imposed on Pensions of Current and future Retired Public Servants in Budget

Reports are circulating from reputable journalists that the pension levy on serving public servants is to be extended to retired public servants in the forthcoming budget. As you know, this is just a selective and discriminatory tax and has no bearing on pension. For the Government it is an attempt to avoid the legal difficulties involved in a straight pension cut. The pensions of the Super-Rich in the private sector which are heavily subsidised by the state will be unaffected by the levy. Tax relief can be claimed to fund a pension based on a maximum salary of 254,000 Euro.

Trident Consultancy recently reported to the 3 teacher unions that the pension scheme for new entrants to the public service is literally a tax. In very many cases the amount accruing to pensioners will be less than the amount invested by the employee alone.
Special meetings of retired members associations should be convened immediately to resist this threat.

Unfortunately the Labour Party Supports Cut in Public Service Pensions.
Pat Rabitte has confirmed on the Week in Politics(31/10/2010) that the Labour Party (Eamonn Gilmore on earlier RTE Sunday lunchtime News) favours cuts in public service pensions for both existing and future pensioners.

Please support my campaign for election to Seanad Eireann 086-4183732