John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader for a debate on the current situation in the public service in which there is industrial action. Unfortunately, this week there seems to have been an escalation. Heretofore, there was a manageable and coherent strategy but this week there is a move towards party political bias in the public service. I ask the public service to seriously consider what it is trying to achieve, its history and excellent and impartial record, including in the 1930s. It has given non-political service since the foundation of the State but this could be broken by this industrial action which would be a serious and wrong development.

I support Senators who have spoken in favour of the rebuilding of Gaza. I am mindful, however, that those who have suffered the most in terms of racial injustice should be the ones to uphold human rights to the nth degree. I hope Gaza will be quickly rebuilt.

I ask for a debate on pensions. When pensions were first introduced by the German Government under Bismarck, people lived until their late 40s and early 50s. Pensions were introduced for those who lived until 65 years of age. Now, fortunately, people are living much longer and are more healthy and active. In the light of the presentation on pensions to be made tomorrow, it would be useful if we could debate developments in the coming week.