Mary Lou McDonald accused the Government of using a “Trojan horse” to move the pension age to 70.
Micheál Martin blasted Sinn Féin for “not telling the truth” in relation to plans surrounding the age the public can draw their state pensions.
The Fianna Fáil leader heavily criticised a presentation Mary Lou McDonald had given, accusing the Government of using a “Trojan horse” to change the pension age to 70.
“First point I would say and I say this as a general point, people get very anxious and get very worried when politicians tell barefaced lies, and we shouldn’t tell the public barefaced lies,” Martin said.
“We should tell the people the truth.
“The bottom line here is very clear here; the pension age is 66. I absolutely don’t know where you’re coming from, Deputy.
“You are not telling the truth in terms of the presentation you just presented now, because the government decision is that the pension age will not rise beyond 66.
“Basically under this system, people will be able to draw down their full pension in exactly the same way they can today.
“Now you are in Government, and have been in Government for a number of years in Northern Ireland, and you voted to increase the pension age to 66, and you have the nerve to come in here and attack this government for retaining the pension age at 66?
“I don’t know how you do it. I mean, it’s a spectacular feat you pull off.”
Following the exchange in the Dáil, Mary Lou McDonald accused the government’s plan as a “scam”.
“The public does not trust this government when it comes to the state pension. Time and again, they have made it clear that they are against the right to retire on a fair pension at 65.
“Now, they are using a Trojan horse to move the pension age to 70. It is a scam to force people to keep working until seventy just to have a decent standard of living.”
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