Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

My first and most important question goes to Mr. Taft. What we have before us to consider is the report of the pensions commission. Mr. Taft makes the argument that the proposed increase in the pension age would not make as significant a contribution, in the context of pensions provision long-term, as is made out in the report. I am glancing across the modelling from which the committee has to work and looking across the four proposed packages. There might not be an enormous part payable by 2030, but the modelling out to 2050 and 2070 shows that the pension age makes a significant contribution. Am I to understand that Mr. Taft questions the modelling behind the four packages laid before us? My follow-on question is that if there are deficiencies in the modelling from Mr. Taft's perspective, where does that leave us when it comes to interpreting the pensions commission's report? If we accept Mr. Taft's analysis, do we find ourselves back at square one? I suppose we do not in one sense because he and other contributors have acknowledged that there is a lot in this report that they welcome. As for the financial analysis, however, where do we find ourselves, from Mr. Taft's point of view?