Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

We in the Labour Party believe in the contributory principle, namely, that everyone in this society is required to contribute. When they are young and children or when they are old, on a pension or in a nursing home, then society returns to them what they contributed when they were able bodied and worked and studied. This is our vision and is what a social solidarity pact is about. I can only repeat my suggestion to the Minister of State regarding those two little words, "withdraw" and "redraw". The Government should withdraw the legislation and then redraw these proposals. Let us build a social solidarity pact for Ireland in order that people can go forward in the knowledge that the banker who only earns €2 million per year at least contributes proportionately.

See this speech in context