Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

My position in this matter has been consistent all along, namely, it is a matter for individual persons who are in receipt of such pensions as to what they wish to do. I also made the point to Deputy Kenny last week that the Attorney General's advice is that the immediate and total abolition of pensions for a single category of pensioner would be unconstitutional. As the Deputy is aware, the Government already has been proactive in this area by reducing the pensions by 25% and by indicating they will be abolished as and from the next Dáil, which is what is regarded as being within the parameters of the law.

See this speech in context