Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I support the points made by my colleague, Deputy Creed. I do not understand the rationale behind the Minister's approach to this matter other than as a money-saving mechanism. The section of the legislation to which Deputy Creed referred makes clear this is a matter of ministerial responsibility. It is clearly the Minister who has made the decision to contact these people to indicate that their pension entitlement will be withdrawn. I questioned the Minister on this issue earlier today in the House and am disappointed she is not here to address it on the Adjournment. She told us that 87 people are currently affected by the change, but this number does not take account of the many more who will be affected when they reach the age of eligibility.

The Minister has it entirely in her power to withdraw the notice sent out to the persons concerned. Her staff throughout the State made the relevant calculations on the applicants' behalf and told them how much they would have to contribute in order to be eligible for the allowance. Some people have been making contributions and have now received a letter asking that they withdraw the moneys submitted. This is unfair and miserly. It makes little of the legitimate expectation of those involved in the commercial partnerships in question, as set out to them by departmental staff. That expectation was fulfilled by way of payment in the case of at least 87 of them. Like my colleague, I call on the Minister to act upon the power accorded to her under subsection 110(2) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 to ensure those payments are made.

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