Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

I do not think we are being unduly strict in expecting the Minister to have a system in place to pick up on deceased pensioners so that he can arrange for their payments to be stopped. The Minister has not said anything today to reassure me that he has a robust system in place. When he writes to pensioners every year to tell them about the increases in pensions, specifically the 37,000 non-resident pensioners, what does he ask them in terms of returning information to him? I presume they are asked to sign some document to say they are still alive. What kind of proof does he require in terms of a witness to that signature? Will the Minister clarify the details with regard to the form people are required to return? What percentage of non-resident pensioners have failed to make that return in recent years?

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