Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Social Welfare Bill 2007. I wish to raise a number of issues. The increases in State old age pensions have been of great benefit. These increases have been incremental over the past number of years. Many people in receipt of social welfare pensions have great regard for this payment and in the case of couples it provides a great income.

The habitual residence clause should be examined by the Government with reference to retired missionaries. These people left Ireland 40 or 50 years ago and are retiring after a lifetime of work in Africa, South America, the Philippines and other places. Provision should be made for them in the Social Welfare Bill by granting them a derogation from the habitual residency rule of two years' residence in Ireland prior to application for a State pension.

I acknowledge fewer people are now affected but when compulsory self-employed PRSI payment was introduced in 1988, a number of people contributed at the time but a number had not paid for ten years in order to qualify for a full contributory pension. In 1998 the Government conceded the need for a pro rata pension. However a number of people had paid the ten years. A constituent of mine had paid for ten years but because of a dispute over the date of birth, the person only qualified for the pro rata pension. I suggest granting a contributor seven tenths or eight tenths or whatever percentage of the contributions paid should be considered.

Since 27 September, anyone in receipt of a social welfare allowance who is providing full-time care and assistance to a family member or to anybody within the meaning of the carer's allowance scheme is entitled to an extra payment of a half-rate carer's allowance. The only people excluded from this allowance are those on jobseeker's allowance. This has been a fantastic scheme. Over the years the respite care grant has increased from €1,000 to €1,700 this year and has been of great benefit to people providing full-time care and assistance to a relative or other person in his or her own home. Those providing this care are contributing to the person being cared for but also to the State. Public representatives should always give due recognition to the people who are providing care and assistance because their dedication to their family member or to other people is second to none. The half-rate carer's allowance has been of significant benefit. Just because a person had been in receipt of an existing social welfare payment they were debarred from the payment. I have met people in my constituency office and at various functions and they have told me the payment has made a significant difference to their lives. It is right that the Government and the State should ensure older people are cared for. These are the people who worked hard in Ireland in frugal and more difficult times.

I wish to raise other issues relating to the Social Welfare Bill. It is a cheap shot for people to say single parents get everything from the State. Life can be very difficult for them. Family income supplements, FIS, are of great benefit. We must encourage people who are working for 20 hours per week to apply for FIS. Many people who have gone to political clinics or advice centres such as the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, have been informed about the family income supplement. However, not all those who are entitled to it benefit from it. We should encourage people to seek it. It is an extra payment that can be used to pay for a car, house, rent or whatever else.

The previous Government introduced free rental on mobile telephones for certain persons. An anomaly arises in regard to people with disabilities who are living at home who have a land line on which their parents pay rental. This may be due to an oversight in the introduction of various Acts and this matter should be examined.

The invalidity pension for persons who are permanently disabled is paid only to those who had paid PRSI contributions at some stage during their working life. However, people with intellectual disabilities never worked and are not entitled to this payment. The argument can be made that the disability allowance is more or less the same thing, but these people should be allowed to qualify for the invalidity pension because it provides a certain level of security. It is considered as a permanent and reckonable income for loans and otherwise. I urge that this matter would be examined.

I thank the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, and the Minister for Social Welfare, Deputy Cullen, for the extra billion euro they have invested in this year's budget. Well done to them.

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