Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I hope Deputy O'Dea appreciates that I was involved in discussions, and the bells do not sound clearly where I was. I welcome the opportunity to open the debate and I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Donohoe, for his opening statement. The Government has provided steadfast support for older people and, in that context, I want to say loudly and clearly that the Government has protected the free travel scheme for beneficiaries in all of its budgets and will continue to do so. I am upset that people would almost attempt to scare older people with the notion that something iconic which they value and use would be taken away when the economy is recovering. I would like the people in Fianna Fáil to acknowledge this.

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