Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

This issue brings some improvement to the position of workers who find themselves in an ongoing difficulty for which we need to enact legislation as quickly as possible. It was intended to have it ready on publication of the Social Welfare Bill but that was not possible. It has been brought forward for a Committee Stage amendment now. I accept that this is a complex area. It does not encompass the fully comprehensive framework for the future of pensions to which Deputy Enright referred. That is an ongoing process that is under discussion and poses a significant challenge for the future. This brings in some improvements, in limited circumstances, for workers whose pension rights have run into difficulty.

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