Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I concur with the other speakers on this matter. In this type of situation it is important to remember the vulnerability of those directly affected. Elderly people are vulnerable for a number of reasons. They are unsure and uncertain about their income, accommodation and health for the future. The chances and possibilities are that their health will not be as good as it had been in the previous 30 or 40 years. Health is a peculiar, mercurial thing, but particularly so for the elderly.

I am amazed at the proposal to retract an undertaken given to the elderly before the 2002 general election. It is repugnant because it brings a cynicism to the debate about political decisions and political promises. It is a swingeing, searing, savage attack on people who have worked their whole lives and given their best to society. They are now being told that the little concession given to them by the Government seven years ago will be taken back because there is a problem. The impact on the people concerned is likely to be much greater than anticipated. The level of administration of this scheme will be counterproductive, as we all know because we deal with this kind of thing every day.

A person may have a long-term illness, and €700 per week would not go very far in such circumstances. In such a situation, the Government is attacking a group of people who have done no wrong. There is no necessity to attack people like that at all, because they have not offended anybody. They have done some good service to the State but, as a doubtful reward, they are now being called upon to make a sacrifice. A Leas-Cheann Chomhairle, how many times have you dealt with people whose resources have been spun out and who are looking to the future with great trepidation? They know well that their income is restricted and if anything goes wrong, they are twice as vulnerable.

I did not have the chance to debate this on Second Stage because the guillotine was used then and we know why. I hope the Minister has thought carefully about this. I can assure her that people who are likely to be affected by it are thinking very carefully. I hope that the impact on them is not as negative as it appears to us on this side of the House.

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