John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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It was stated that the ratio of those in receipt of State pensions to those at work will narrow. On the other hand, we hear that the population is going to rise to 6 million by 2050. This suggests that there will be many births and much immigration, probably for labour reasons. Is it innocent of me to ask whether the figures can be substantiated?

On the unknowns, as the delegates were talking, I was thinking about a move to the cost-rental model, for example. Under this model, people might be in a position for the first time in Ireland to rent for the long term or for life. In theory, they should have more disposable income because they will not be facing the cost of a mortgage, although we know that in some parts of Dublin the cost of a mortgage is half the cost of rent at the moment. However, I am assuming they would have more disposable income. Under the Vienna model and other such models, these people's rent obligations would taper off on retirement. It would be built in that there would be a tapering-off when their income dropped and they were in receipt of the State pension. Are considerations like these being factored in? These are general questions. I am not pinning them on the delegates because I would imagine they have answered more detailed ones already. I am just doing a more general sweep.