Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

——and I ask that he would bear that in mind. If we are to have constructive debates, new Senators should not be denigrated in the manner in which they have been.

On the basis of treating people equally, I wish to refer to a case to be heard in the European Court tomorrow relating to mandatory retirement ages. The case has been referred from the United Kingdom and centres on the question of whether the European framework employment directive has been properly implemented. We have implemented that legislation in Ireland and we have mandatory retirement ages in the private and public sectors. It is time to review the issue of retirement ages. The OECD has presented a report, which has been approved, but not implemented, by this Government, which calls for an end to the compulsory retirement age of 65, in light of the pension crisis in Europe. I ask the Leader to clarify the Government's position on this issue. Has the Government intervened in the European Court case, the hearing of which takes place in Luxembourg tomorrow? I ask him to arrange a debate on the issue of retirement ages and mandatory retirement.

I second the request made by Senator Frances Fitzgerald to amend the Order of Business to allow for a discussion on the economy.