Mary White (Fianna Fail)

A total of 84% of the age cohort from 65 to 74, and a total of 89% of those aged 75 and older, rely on social transfers including the State pension to protect them from the risk of poverty. Any cut to the State contributory pension, for which people have already paid through their PRSI contributions will be resisted by older people. Older people have already taken a 2% effective cut because of the elimination of the Christmas bonus last year. They pay carbon costs and increased dental costs. If there is any change in the State contributory pension and if protests are held outside the door I will be there with the older people. It is my responsibility. I am spokesperson on older people and yesterday I spoke at our policy group meeting with the Minister for Finance and I will do so again with the Taoiseach this morning. They will be absolutely out of their minds if they touch the pension.

There is incompetence in the Department of Education and Skills. People at the top of the Department earn mega-salaries and they could not spend €330 million. For God's sake, there is something wrong in the streets of Denmark.