Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I have two points to make. It is a bit of a contradiction to say that people paid in in the expectation that they would be getting a certain amount, while at the same time the same people paid in in the expectation that they would be getting the post-retirement increases also. We are passing legislation to change the priority of that, so there is no reason we cannot change the priority of other aspects also.

The Minister accepts the difficulties for Opposition Deputies, but this is not a personal problem in the sense that I do not have time; this is about doing it properly. It is not that I am rushed, but that I have not had an opportunity to consult with experts on this matter. There are four officials sitting beside the Minister handing her bits of paper on everything we say. That is the way the system works here and I do not have a problem with it. However, I do have a problem with the fact that, given the nature of today's debate, I could not consult with experts before making up my mind on adopting policy positions for Fine Gael. The same applies to other parties. The Minister makes it sound as if it is a bit awkward for the three spokespersons here today.

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