Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

Unlike Senator Norris, I welcome the Minister of State to the House and applaud her temerity and courage in going to speak at the public meeting. I wish she could have been heard as democracy is about hearing all views, which I respect.

This debate is not just about social justice. It concerns the value we place on our people, particularly senior citizens. The debate is important because this generation of senior citizens, our elders, have built up Ireland and the Celtic tiger. We should thank them rather than slapping them down. It is particularly upsetting and galling to see many Senators opposite coming here today to justify the legislation and to attack, in particular, Deputy James Reilly. I remind the Members opposite that it was their Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Micheál Martin, from the great county of Cork, who cynically attempted to buy the last general election with a vote-getting exercise.