Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I share the Deputy's concern and those expressed by a wide number of Deputies across the House. The advice to me in the Department is that there would be difficulties if we tried to introduce the legislation on an age-cohort basis. I intend to review the spirit of the legislation in these difficult times to see what provisions can be implemented, perhaps by different means. I am not entirely sure, as it is a complex issue. However, we are simply not in a position in current circumstances to even contemplate taking on a recurring additional burden of €300 million each year. I would be misleading the House and all those directly involved if I were to give any sense of hope this was possible.

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