Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is the first thing I should have said. I apologise. For many pensions, 40 years is the norm and the number which will be required as part of the total contributions approach, TCA, 2012 revisions when the legislation is passed for those affected by the 2012 rate band. The Senator is aware that class S contributions were only introduced in 1988. That will make it challenging for many self-employed persons to qualify for a full pension in 2020 if the number of contributions at the time exceeded 32. We are not yet wedded to an outcome. I know that people have made up their minds that we are absolutely wedded to something at the end of the public consultation process. We are not, which is why we had a public consultation process. We received in excess of 300 quality submissions, which is great. Arising from the submissions, we will have a new proposition later for us on which to agree. I hope we will collectively pass legislation.