26/02/2009

Pension Levy Passes Through Daíl

The hugely controversial pension levy Bill has been successfully passed in the Daíl and is due to be passed into law next week.

The Government easily won the vote on the Bill that was on the end of large scale protests from the workers throughout the country.

Fine Gael have been extremely quiet on the bill and this morning released no statements on the passing of the levy.

However, the Labour party have called for delay on the measure, saying that with public anger at an all time high and a number of impending strikes coming up, the Taoiseach should talk to the unions.

This morning, Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore said: "We are now facing into a spate of strikes over the next couple of weeks.

"The anger being felt by the low-paid worker is understandable when you consider the lowest paid worker in a hospital is having her wages cut while this week the Minister for Health announced that the highest paid people, hospital consultants are to get a huge increase.

"That increase was announced on the very day the HSE announced it is going to cut front line services.

Anger at the proposal, which could see public service workers loose take home pay as their pension contributions are reduced, culminated with a mass protest on Saturday.

A reported 150,000 people took to Dublin's streets, led by the public sectors main unions.

(DW/BMcC)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

18 December 2014
Dáil Passes Water Services Bill
The Water Services Bill has been passed by the Dáil with 81 votes to 58. The Dáil spent more than 40 hours debating the Bill and had said that it would guillotine it at 21:30 on Wednesday.
06 December 2018
Landmark Abortion Bill Passes In Dáil
The Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill, which will allow the full introduction of abortion services, passed all stages in the Dáil on Wednesday 05 December in a late night vote. It will now proceed to the Seanad. TDs voted in favour of the abortion legislation by 90 votes to 15, with 12 abstentions.
23 October 2015
Seanad Passes Marriage Bill
A law to allow same-sex marriages to be held in Ireland has passed through the Oireachtas. This means the Marriage Bill is ready to be signed into law. Once a commencement order is signed, which could take place within the next two months, marriage ceremonies can begin.
17 July 2014
Court Of Appeal Bill 2014 Passes Both Houses
The Court of Appeal Bill 2014 has successfully passed through both the Dáil and the Seanad. The Bill follows a referendum held last October, which asked the public about establishing a court of appeal.
15 July 2013
Protection Of Life Bill Moves On To Seanad
The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 has begun its passage through the Seanad, with six days being set aside for its completion. Four hours will be spent debating the Bill today and tomorrow. If the Bill passes the Seanad with no further amendments it will be passed to President Michael D Higgins.