Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have no views on ruling the world but I thought the Deputy opposite was a traditional Wobbly, uniting the workers of the world. From the years I spent listening to her on the administrative council of the Labour Party, I know her good Trot view of that. Unfortunately, being caught in the time warp of the Sixties is of no value to us in terms of interpreting the economic crisis we now have.

Let me give the Deputy some facts. In the most difficult of economic times we have maintained the old age pension rate. One may consider the rate of €230 and compare it to that of Northern Ireland or Britain. Look at the additional benefits we provide. By any objective analysis we have protected the elderly - rightly so - from the vagaries of the awful times we have gone through.

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