Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

With regard to the pension gender gap, we all know that women receive less in pensions than men. This is true not only in respect of the State pension but in relation to private pensions. There are contrary gaps too, including that women live longer than men, such that over the period of their retirement they may get more in cash terms than men.

Generally speaking, women make fewer contributions both in terms of cash and years. Whereas on the one hand gender pension gaps are often raised, on the other they are never raised. I am not accusing the Senator in this regard. People see gender gaps when it suits them. They do not often see them when they work the other way.