Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I also hope the debate will cover the amount of savings that will be taken into account without affecting medical card eligibility. The thresholds given are €36,000 for a single person and €72,000 for a couple. It is only the interest on any sum over that which will be brought into question.

I was rather surprised, but interested, to hear Senator Joe O'Toole claim €36,000 was not much of a pension. Is he confusing a pension with an occupational income? A teacher retiring after 40 years of service will have a pension of €36,000. It was Senator Joe O'Toole who would have negotiated that. I look forward to debating that.