Sir, – Arthur Beesley reports that Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has decided to continue with the levy on private pension funds, which had been due to expire this year "Levy on private pensions set to exceed €2 billion", Business and Technology, September 25th).
Even by the standards of politicians, this is an act of blatant cynicism. Mr Noonan and his Government colleagues are relying on the calculation that the lobby against this levy is not large and vociferous. We have heard less about it than about the comparatively minor matter of the water charges.
At the same time, thousands of people have been affected by the levy. On a personal note, my pension went down by nearly €800 last year because of the levy. I can live with this, but I shouldn’t have to, having paid into this pension for over 40 years. And it is likely that thousands – a silent minority – have been affected around the country. Is there any guarantee that the Minister will not establish the levy as a permanent fixture? Like the pernicious universal social charge?
I do, incidentally, recall a senior member of the present Government asserting in tones of lofty morality that they would never take money from people’s savings.
Has the Attorney General ever been asked to rule on the legality of this levy? – Yours, etc,
RONAN FARREN,
Avondale Road,
Killiney, Co Dublin.