Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the three groups for their presentations. I will touch on the changes in 2012, if I can, with the Women's Council. Since I was elected, that has been one of the main things about which women of a certain age group are contacting all our offices. That many women were unaware of these changes makes it even more horrifying that they suddenly arrive at pension age and see how small the pension is. On the personal aspect, what we can collectively do? We are a committee made up of all different parties. What would the delegates like to see us, as a committee, as well as other politicians and outside groups doing? In December, we brought a motion before the House. Unfortunately, it did not pass. However, collectively how can we advance this? I am also mindful that a lot of this is statistics and percentages but it concerns real people. It is affecting real women. So that we can get a feel of what is happening to this core group of women, will the delegates tell us what these real women are saying to them? On the homemaker's scheme, we know that many women have been affected because the changes were only backdated to 1994. Do the delegates know how many are affected? Is it a high number?