Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegates. There were two main issues dealt with in our report which featured in the debate on the changes made in 2012. I remember debating this matter in 2012 in my former capacity as a member of the National Women's Council of Ireland. There was the historical injustice represented by the averaging system and the injury added to it by the changes in bands and contributory requirements. To be clear, the proposals which have been brought forward under the TCA12 scheme address one of those issues, but they fail to address and possibly compound the other. Everybody was happy to see the issue of averaging being addressed. I was was very happy when the Minister made commitments on care credits because it was something for which I had advocated for years. It is an important recognition of the contribution made by carers. I have a number of specific questions about the care credits before I come to another issue, namely, the changes in bands and contributory requirements.