Chairman:

I will conclude on this point, which I do not need the Minister to answer. We are disappointed that the anomaly is not being addressed through a short-term measure. The Minister is right: it does cost millions. The problem is that it is a relatively small cohort of pensioners who are paying those millions. The anomaly is disproportionately affecting this group. It is having a much greater impact because they are not losing €3 or €5 a week; they are losing quite a substantial amount. I ask the Minister again then if she could go back fully to the 2012 situation, while I absolutely understand how much that would cost. Perhaps she could go partially back. She has clearly indicated that in a few years time we will have a new system. In the meantime, however, it is the view of this committee that that particular cohort is not being treated fairly? I will leave it there but the Minister might reflect on that.

I will now take the questions of two colleagues at a time. Members have five minutes each and I ask them to respect that time. We will have direct answers after that. If there is further time after that we can come back for a second round of questions. The first questioner is Deputy John Brady.