Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

It is of major importance that this agreement is accepted. In this regard, there is no more experienced person in Ireland today than Senator Joe O'Toole, and when he speaks in this House people must listen. He asked the unions, at this difficult time in our country's history, to support the deal. We fully support the Senator in this.

Senators O'Toole, Bradford, McFadden, O'Reilly and other colleagues outlined their full support for the farmers' wives who, as we all know, are seeking their pension entitlements, having paid their contributions. We should do everything we possibly can to support this very small number of people.

However, there is a bigger issue; that is, the self-employed people who played such an important role in the Celtic tiger, parts 1 and 2. They are now finding that they are not entitled to anything, even though they have paid millions or even billions of euro in PRSI, PAYE, VAT, income tax, capital gains tax, property taxes and stamp duty. They have made an enormous contribution and it is the private sector that will bring the economy back to buoyancy again. We should have an all-day debate in the House in this regard. No section of our community should be left out. They should be given an opportunity to pay their contributions and be included in future pension provisions. Some of them may not have been aware of the various challenges that were facing them, but they soon realised that not only were their businesses gone, but they were entitled to nothing from the State. Hardship is on their doorsteps and they realise their families must suffer for the bare essentials of tea, butter, bread and sugar.