Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Our economic growth and success have shown the reason there has been a slight decrease in GDP expenditure. We have a system which is different from that in many of our European Union counterparts. The way in which social protection is evaluated is quite different from the way we look at it. The main areas of social protection in the European Union focus on old age which is not necessarily the case in Ireland. I appreciate the point made by the Senator. We have a different welfare system compared to that in many other EU countries.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Sections 3 and 4 agreed to.

NEW SECTION.