Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

More important, there are measures which are not in the Bill which should be in it. The poverty figures demonstrate that we still have a long way to go.

Fianna Fáil is not opposing the Bill on Second Stage, but I have a few things to point out to the Minister about various aspects of the legislation which we will be discussing further on Committee Stage.

I welcome the increase in the rate of pension, although I regret the fact that it will not apply until 10 March 2017. It was usual in good times and bad for budgetary increases to kick in from 1 January the following year. I would like to see that system restored. However, I make no apologies for campaigning for an increase for pensioners. If one looks at what has happened for them in the past five years, one can see the withdrawal of the free telephone rental allowance, the decimation of the household benefits package, restrictions in qualification for a medical card and the introduction of water charges and the property tax. All of these are matters which bear down heavily on those with fixed incomes. It was time pensioners got a break.

See this speech in context