Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I suggest that the Order of Business be amended so that we can take statements on the three issues mentioned in my motion — the need to exclude the minimum wage from the income levy, to restore the universal entitlement of people over the age of 70 to the medical card and to reverse the proposal to reduce class sizes. I ask the Leader to provide for such a debate immediately. We need to examine the fact that we are being misled, rightly or wrongly. I do not believe that just 20,000 people over the age of 70 earn more than €36,000 a year. That is what is suggested in a document I downloaded from the website of the Department of Finance an hour ago. I deeply resent the manner in which members of the Government have referred to people who earn €36,000 a year as "well-off" or "highly paid".