P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I rise to defend all those people who are retired and who built our nation into what it is today. At times they paid an effective tax rate of up to 60% during their working careers, or caring for our children.

As somebody who has worked all my life in politics to help the weaker members of the community, this is the meanest decision I have ever seen. We will very soon see if those opposite who gave the budget speech a standing ovation — though I do not know where those soldiers of destiny have gone tonight——

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