Lenihan I believe in 2011 during the financial crisis.
At the same time PRSI was added to all sorts of non-pay related income, non Pay Related "PRSI" that in almost all cases as far as I understand provides no entitlement to Social Insurance. Also tax relief on PRSI for pension contributions removed.
A major disadvantage of implementing a negative change against middle to high earners is that it's politically nearly impossible to reverse so we end up stuck with every dumb decision for decades or effectively life times.
Am I paying PRSI twice, on the way in to my private pension and out?
I think by removing the alignment between payments in and out undermines the principles of PRSI being a public insurance system. Ideally it would be a flat percentage up to a maximum but I can accept that it being stepped.
Your point about the political ability to make certain changes is correct. It seems even if the change can be well justified there is too much political points to be gained by the opposition by objecting to it. Is this unique to Ireland? I mean if any party would address this it would be FG but are they the least likely to be able to make this change?