Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

I find it interesting that the Taoiseach, the Government and its backbenchers treat this issue with contempt. It is an issue of primary importance for the tens of thousands who will be affected by it and forced to work in the most difficult circumstances until they are 68 years. More importantly, only in two and a half years time these measures will affect 11,000 workers. This is of the most serious import. Any Deputy who votes for this measure today should be ashamed of themselves.

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