Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

The Green Paper was published in a very different environment. Will the changed environment be taken into account? I echo what Deputy Shortall has said. When will we see action? The Minister's initial reply to Deputy Shortall outlined valid reasons for a State annuity scheme, yet we are no clearer on whether this is under consideration by Government. It is very blasé of the Minister to say there is an opportunity for things to improve over the course of people's working lives. One does not have such an opportunity if one is between 61 and 64 years of age. It is very different for those in their 20s or 30s. This must be taken into consideration.

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