Mr. Noel Conway:

I want to come in on what I put forward and expand on it from the perspective of the community and voluntary sector, where we have up to 85,000 people working today. I fully support the Bill but its spirit will be devalued if the Department, the way it is operating currently, ceases funding for anyone reaching retirement age. Even though the Bill could be law tomorrow morning, if the Department does not change its policy in regard to extending funding beyond retirement age, which is 66 this year or next year and 67 in two years' time, it will be of no value to the staff employed in the community and voluntary sector. Community and voluntary groups do not have the funding to maintain salary and wages without funding from the State.