Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not necessarily agree with the Senator, and that is fine. We probably do not agree on many matters, and that is okay too.

There will be a robust defence of the decisions that were made. On the basis of that, when we took over in 2011, the Social Insurance Fund, SIF, had a small surplus. That surplus was devastated within two years and we were massively in deficit. The SIF has now a surplus of €3.9 billion but that will be gone in a short number of years, and will be gone a hell of a lot faster if those who are now popularising the proposal that we should go back to 65 years - just because there is an election coming - get their way. The Senator must figure out where he will get the money from.