Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

With regard to the constitutional problems associated with pensions, there is anxiety over the expected turnout in the referendum on the rights of children. I support the proposed constitutional change, despite its limitations. The Minister would have a 95% turnout on the day if he was to propose an amendment to deal with the considerable pension issues. Everybody would come out to vote in that regard.

The Minister, whose remarks comprised handy propaganda against us, knows very well that our campaign against bin taxes and other charges is being conducted becasue they are all new burdens on the shoulders of ordinary people who are paying for the services already. The overwhelming majority of bin services nationally, for which services a payment system has been in place since the Minister's former leader, Mr. Dick Spring, introduced it in 1983, were privatised long before the dispute in Dublin.