Ex-miners give Kenny a grilling over pension cuts

Taoiseach Enda Kenny endured a rain-soaked tongue-lashing from Tara Mines pensioners on Monday night, when visiting Fine Gael's award ceremony for Meath party members with service of 30 years or more. The Taoiseach brought with him Presidential hopeful Gay Mitchell who later passed the angry miners almost unnoticed as they grilled Mr Kenny about the imminent 10 per cent cut to their 267 pensions. The Taoiseach arrived by car outside the Newgrange Hotel in the town at around 7.20pm but he was immediately surrounded by around 25 angry pensioners, who weren't afraid to take him to task on cuts to their retirement money. Before making it inside the hotel, he was quizzed on the path outside for around 15 minutes in the rain by the pensioners demanding action. "The Minister for Finance has made it perfectly clear to the trustees of these pension groups," he began when confronted by the group. "Insurance copmanies lobbied you first and they've won now and you've put the onus on us to pay it," he was angrily told by Paul Keary. "We pointed out, and no less than Deputy Shane Ross pointed out, that there is plenty of cash in that system so that pensioners would not have to pay," said Mr Kenny but, again, he was vehemently rebuked. "There's no cash in that system!" he was told. "They've (the trustees of the pensions) no choice because the pension scheme is in serious arrears." "That's not your fault and that's not my fault," said Mr Kenny. "It's your fault for levying people on pension schemes that can't afford it!" said another. "We have to make decisions on job creation," Mr Kenny pleaded. "You're causing job losses - a million euros leaving this area every year for the next four years!" said Mr Keary. "There are different ways of applying the levy, what they have chosen to do is levy you over four years instead of putting the levy over the lifetime of the pension..." the Taoiseach added. "We don't want it over any length!" was the unanimous reply. "Four years on a pensioner is disgraceful that's most of what is left of his life; that's disgraceful and you call that temporary? Three per cent (tax) on the wealthy would bring in 10 times what you're looking for," said Mr Keary. "You'll never get my vote again," the Taoiseach was told by a man to his rear. "I met with a lot of people like you with real problems, I've gotta sort out a country that is €20 billion outta line, 14 per cent unemployed and people leaving the country..." began Mr Kenny again. "You'll never get my vote again," he was told by another man. "Enda, nobody here minds paying their fair share, but this is not fair." "I happen to be the first public servant to take a voluntary pay cut," said Kenny. "These problems won't go away until people make hard decisions, and that's my job." The group requested a meeting with Finance Minister Michael Noonan and the Taoiseach said he would arrange for three representatives, Des Hegarty, Jim Brennan and Tom Kelly, to meet with Mr Noonan in Leinster House after their meeting with Labour whip Jack Wall. The Taoiseach then proceeded inside to speak some 300 supporters alongside Fine Gael presidential hopeful Gay Mitchell, who had earlier passed by the miners without being noticed, as they rebuked Mr Kenny at the hotel entrance. At the time of going to press, it is not known if the miners got their meeting with the Finance Minister.