Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

No. To be clear, this is the same thing. Care provision is being added to the mix, but when it is added, the requirement goes up. We are not saying we are going to add it and give it equal status. If we were to be consistent, we would be looking at a 30-year requirement in line with the original vision for the total contribution approach. We would then accept 20 years of care credits as part of the 30-year requirement. That would represent care provision being given equal value as working contributions. Mr. Duggan is saying that because we are taking care into consideration, we have to expand the threshold and move the goalposts by an additional period of ten years. That does not give adequate recognition to care provision, which is why I am saying the requirement should be 30 years. These are opinions. As Mr. Duggan says, nothing has been decided, but I am putting forward this point.