Senator Courtenay on Salary and Allowances Cut: “We don’t enjoy this”

Eamon Courtenay

Wrapping up the discussions on the bill – Government Business Senator Eamon Courtenay said he took no joy in being a part of implementing the legal frame work for the act to come into force. He said it really was a matter of choosing the lesser of the evils.

Eamon Courtenay, Senator for Government Business

“Madam President, as I said in the budget debate absolutely no one in this senate today on either side and the social partner take any joy in passing this piece of legislation. So, I say to all the senators don’t come here pretending that any of you are more concerned than any one of us. We don’t enjoy this. We take no pleasure in doing this and for a second believe that we are insensitive and do not for a second think that we are not fully aware of the pain that it causes but there is a reality. The Honorable John Briceño and his government were elected to fix a problem. I repeat what the financial secretary said how long will it take for us to go over the cliff; he said we are already over. The IMF is demanding and proposing a retrenchment; tax increase; devaluation. If senators believe this is a bukut, then they can choose an IMF disaster. We have chosen, Senator Salas is right, this is an evil. We have chosen the lesser of some evils.”