Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I refer again to the ageing population, which comes up all the time. I do not think that the number of old people is increasing. I think the number of younger people is increasing at a far more rapid rate. If one looks at the people congregating in supermarkets, stores and shops, with employment in the economy, there are huge numbers of young people coming into the country. We are also retaining a greater number of the indigenous population in that area. Previously, those populations either were not available or left the country, which was a huge problem for this country. Now these people are in this country. The theory the HSE and everybody puts forward is that the number of people in the older age cohort is increasing. It is not. I do not think it is at all. I have challenged that theory for years because all the evidence I see demonstrates the reverse is the case. There is now a much bigger concentration of young people, the ones who are staying at home, have been educated at home or go away for a year but come back again, etc. We also see that cohort in some of the big employers. I think I am right and can be proved right. I have held that view since I was a Minister of State at the Department of Social Welfare, which is a long time ago.