Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The changes made in 2012 to the State pension mean that over 35,000 people have been left with a smaller pension payment than they would have received had they retired before that year. The vast majority of those affected are women, many of whom are receiving up to €35 less in their pension payments every week. That is wrong and this discrimination cannot be let continue. I commend the National Women's Council, Age Action Ireland, the ICA and the other groups involved for their tireless campaigning on this matter. Last December we brought forward a motion to try to address all of these issues. Sinn Féin attempted to have restored the pension bands and rates to their pre-2012 position in order to eliminate the unfair discrimination against women and end this blatant injustice once and for all. We also tried to provide for the restoration of the rates and bands in our alternative budget.

We have shown, time and again, that we are on the side of women and equality. We have shown that it is possible to balance the books and do the right thing. Fianna Fáil has come late to the party. It chose not to support our motion last year but it is enlightening to see that, ten months later, it is embracing our proposals so I suppose it is better late than never. Fianna Fáil did not lift a finger during the budget negotiations to try to ensure that this discrimination was brought to an end once and for all, which clearly shows that the party is only paying lip-service here tonight. It has taken the opportunity to score political points with this motion rather than taking action when action was required. Some would say that this is too little too late.

We will be supporting this motion in the hope that a real difference can be made to the lives of the many women who have been affected - better late than never. I urge the Government to take heed of the growing support and act on this issue as soon as possible.

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