Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I know exactly what he said. I know how hypocritical he is being now. The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 outlaws discrimination in occupational pensions on the nine grounds, including sexual orientation, to which I have referred. When the Government amended the health insurance legislation in 2001, not only did it maintain the existing protections for consumers, but it also introduced protections on the ground of sexual orientation. The Health Insurance (Amendment) 2001 deals with the question of how health insurance is provided to members of the community. That was done by this Government — nothing was done by the Labour Party Government.

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