Frontline staff cut while senior politicians keep their fat pensions

A Sinn Féin Councillor has attacked Minister Brendan Howlin for failing to honour electoral reform pledges made prior to the last general election. Cllr Anthony Kelly said that Minister Howlin's decision to provide special pension provisions for former Oireachtas members and MEPs who win back their seats after losing them at a previous election while frontline Gardaí, Fire-fighters and Hospital Staff are facing devastating cuts was outrageous.
Cllr Kelly said;

“The governments Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill is a damning realisation of where the Labour party stands on its pre election promises to tackle political corruption. Rather than honour their promises to reform the Irish political system, Labour have instead allowed special pension provisions for senior politicians who win back their seats after losing them at a previous election.”

“This is at a time when frontline staff in our most vital services are under increasing pressure due to government cuts. Ask our nurses in Wexford General Hospital, our fire-fighters around the county or our Gardaí who have seen many of their rural stations closed down if they think it is appropriate that the only civil servants not being cut are the ones at the top.”

“Minister Howlin did not include provisions to end early retirements and special pension payoffs for current Secretaries General or indeed future or current City and County Managers. Minister Howlin's Labour party and his colleagues in Fine Gael also refused to support a cap on public sector pensions.”

“Reform Minister Howlins support of special pension provisions for former Oireachtas members and MEPs is outrageous. It is shocking that Fine Gael and Labour would deem it right or proper to slip in this kind of preferential treatment for politicians.”