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[petervalhala]

McCreevy introduced benchmarking, hardly the actions of a prudent or responsible Finance Minister.

It was a good idea, unfortunately the unions prevented any real progress.

McCreevy was also the man who set up the National Pensions Reserve Fund, certainly the action of a far sighted and responsible Finance Minister

[petervalhala]

I disagree as would many other famlies out there just surviving Ive seen a bit of a come down in prices, not enough to warrant a 10% cut though! never mind the propossed 5% cut.

So how did they manage this time last year? A 5% cut would only restore the real value of benefits to that time, how on earth would they manage in the UK ?

Also a family of 2 adults and 2 kids receives €37,942 per annum from the state, and with three kids receives €41,960. Tax experts said yesterday this family would need to get a job paying at least €55,000 to come out with the same amount of money after tax.

But the average industrial wage is €33,000 before tax, which means there is little incentive for the adults in a family like this to take up an average-income job.

Are you seriously suggesting they are 'only surviving' on such huge handouts?

See Vol 2 of McCarthy's report and It can pay to stay at home

[petervalhala]

There should be one national pension scheme for everyone in my opinion based on the PRSI system.

There already is!

[X-ray]

There already is!

Yes but I dont have access to it.

[X-ray]

Do you have problems with basic mathematics? We have ONE nationalised bank - Anglo

Yes my maths is quite good, when I give a bank 3.5billion euro and it is worth less than one billion I think I own it. I am funny like that.

[petervalhala]

Yes my maths is quite good, when I give a bank 3.5billion euro and it is worth less than one billion I think I own it. I am funny like that.

You stated there were SIX nationalised banks, when there is ONE.

That's rather poor maths if you can't count

[petervalhala]

Yes but I dont have access to it.

You don't have access to what? The state pension? If you are over 65 why don't u?

[irish_bob]

It was a good idea, unfortunately the unions prevented any real progress.

McCreevy was also the man who set up the National Pensions Reserve Fund, certainly the action of a far sighted and responsible Finance Minister

indeed and it was unions who instructed bertie to get rid of mc creevy , he was seen as being too right wing

[X-ray]

You don't have access to what? The state pension? If you are over 65 why don't u?

anyone with a HSE pension employed since the mid 1990s is banned from state OAPs, thats what I have been saying for months, I will only be slightly better off than if I was on a social welfare pension as I pay PRSI A which bans me from having a state pension. All this talk of our great pensions is just that, talk. I would opt out if I could. I will pay much much more into my pension and PSRI than I ever get out of it. This the case for all except the very very well paid.

[Baron von Biffo]

anyone with a HSE pension employed since the mid 1990s is banned from state OAPs, thats what I have been saying for months, I will only be slightly better off than if I was on a social welfare pension as I pay PRSI A which bans me from having a state pension. All this talk of our great pensions is just that, talk. I would opt out if I could. I will pay much much more into my pension and PSRI than I ever get out of it. This the case for all except the very very well paid.

You seem to be a bit mixed up X-ray.

If you were employed in the civil service before April 1995 you pay PRSI at class D and are barred from getting the state OAP.

Those employed after April 1995 pay class A PRSI. Their pension is made up of the OAP plus a balancing amount where applicable to make the occupational rate.