Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

At the time the Government made the decision not to proceed with lifting the ceiling, was the Minister aware of how difficult the situation facing private pension funds was? The Minister has been aware for some time but I do not know for how long. If she was aware then, would she have preferred a different decision and a different outcome?

Clearly, if there will be a substantial additional burden on the Social Insurance Fund, then that fund will need support. Surely the removal of the ceiling on PRSI would have been one mechanism to ensure that adequate funding was available to deal with the potential for significant additional numbers who will rely on it.

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