Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I find it quite difficult to take on board lectures on this issue from Fianna Fáil Senators when such bizarre situations were permitted to arise under previous Administrations. I have given only one example of the types of anomalies that arose. At the same time, we have cases such as the 62 year old man who came to my office recently who, because his wife is a public servant and is still working, is not entitled to any type of benefit on his own account and does not qualify for any type of community employment scheme. He is at home tearing his hair out. I appeal to the Minister to seek to create a system where energetic, fit and healthy people aged 60 and over who want to contribute to society will have an opportunity to upskill. People might ask what the point of that is for older people-----