Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

Ba mhaith liom tréaslú leis an Seanadóir Ó Brolacháin as ucht bheith tofa go dtí an Seanad. Polaiteoir den chéad scoth é agus cuirim fáilte is fiche roimhe go dtí an Teach seo. Senator Ó Brolcháin is most welcome. He was well known as an outstanding city councillor and I am sure he will be equally effective in this House.

I was invited today to a briefing session along with other former teachers who are Oireachtas Members by the teachers' unions. I was very heartened by the positive and dispassionate manner in which teachers' unions put their case to us. I would hope the Minister may have an opportunity to come to the House to spell out some particular problems with regard to teachers' pensions, both current pensioners and their pension parity with serving members and also to explain to us in more detail this averaging out of pensions in the future and which is envisaged in the budget. I believe in consensus and that consensus can be retrieved and the sooner we start, the better.