Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Articles 41.2.1° and 41.2.2° of the Constitution state, "In particular, the State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved" and "The State shall, therefore, endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home." While the homemaker's scheme introduced in 1994 went a long way to increase the rights of homemakers by making it easier for them to qualify for a contributory State pension, they are still a generation of women who have been forgotten about. A group of women is in limbo and has been actively discriminated against by the introduction of the homemaker's scheme.

The scheme only goes back to 1994, which precludes women who worked in the home prior to this date from benefitting from the scheme. Some women were discriminated against in the past when forced to give up their jobs in the late 1960s and early 1970s because of the marriage bar. Subsequently, other women chose to give up their jobs and remain at home to rear children or care for a sick child or relative. They are discriminated against because they are not included in the current homemaker's scheme which is only applicable from 1994. The scheme recognises women who choose to leave the workforce for a period not greater than 20 years to care for children or a sick child or relative. I urge the Taoiseach and the Minister for Social Protection to apply the same scheme retrospectively from 1970.

The women precluded from the scheme are either on reduced pensions or do not have enough contributions to qualify for a full rate, or are receiving a pension as a qualified adult which is related to their husband's pension. This is not a payment in their own right. The payment is means tested and some women struggle with the concept of continuing to be dependent on their husbands in retirement. They feel their contribution to society is not being recognised. It is very unfair and results in a loss of dignity.

These women are being discriminated against deliberately, but in terms of their pensions it is discrimination on two grounds, namely gender and age. Can the Taoiseach tell me that the homemaker's scheme will be backdated to 1970?

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