Bernard J. Durkan
Question:251 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the basis for his recent announcement that many pensioners in Ireland were very wealthy in view of the fact that many persons who retired in the past ten years, on the advice of banking and investment agencies, invested their savings in what turned out to be unsafe and unsecured ventures resulting in massive losses; if he acknowledges the sense of hurt, dismay and betrayal caused by his insensitive and unfounded remarks and the offence he has caused to a generation that contributed hugely to the State during their lifetime, and more recently contributed to their sons and daughters who were forced to buy houses at inflated prices, which are now affected by negative equity, and who are now threatened with reductions in their pension to which they contributed heavily over their working lives; if he will now apologise for the offence he has caused, particularly in the wake of the earlier Government’s commitment now reversed to award free medical cards to over 70s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44060/10]
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