Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

We are in the middle of the worst recession since the foundation of the State. Does the Minister believe it is right that people should have to wait, in some cases six to seven months, for their appeal to be heard? I want to know that from the Minister because I want to be able to tell my constituents, and the people of this country, what he, as Minister for Social Protection, is doing about that. What action is he taking? What staff is he employing to address the problem? Does the Minister believe it is right, with 465,000 unemployed, to bring back retired people when we have graduates with all kinds of degrees that we could train in a very short time and give them these jobs instead of bringing back people who are retired?

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