Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. Before I turn to members, I wish to discuss the over-66s. An argument has been made to me. There is a cohort of people over the age of 66 who have no entitlement to a contributory State pension and who, because they were working, are not entitled to a non-contributory State pension. They have fallen between the cracks but should have been eligible for the PUP. It could have been structured in such a way as to ensure that someone did not get a second payment, which is the case under the social protection rules anyway. This affects a small cohort of people who are being discriminated against. I will not get into a debate now, given that we will revert to this matter when we discuss the social welfare Bill, but I just wanted to make the point.