Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I know that our time is nearly over, but I wish to mention the OECD report on pensions, which was mentioned in the newspapers. Any attempt to means test the State pension should be resisted by all. It is ridiculous and I cannot understand how any policy maker could come up with the idea. People worked and contributed all of their lives. They and their employers paid 14% PRSI but to what benefit if they are not to be given their State pensions? It makes no sense that people who worked for all of their lives and put some savings aside will end up with less money than those who sat on their proverbial rears and did not save anything. Policy makers believe that the public sector is up in arms over a proposed reduction in wages, but every worker should be up in arms and resist the pensions change. Will the Leader ask the Minister for Social Protection to attend the House when she gets the chance for a debate on the pensions report?