Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very glad to say a few words on this but I am very disappointed that the woman, the Deputy, who caused this trouble is not present to hear this debate. I do not like talking behind someone's back but, be that as it may, I will say what I have to say. It was the former Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, a woman who was supposed to have been representing women, who signed off on this anomaly, which has affected so many women adversely around the country. I first came to know about this in and around 2014. It took me a long time to get my head around what was going on. It took me a good while to understand what has happened. What has been done to the women of Ireland is totally unfair. I refer to the women who are not getting their full pensions and who have been subject to cuts of €30 and €40. As I understand it, there are some women who are getting no pension but whose husbands are getting a payment for them. I do not know who organised that or set that scheme up, but that is totally unfair. It is degrading for a woman. That system must be rectified as well.

What was done to these people, lovely women, is the height of blackguarding and we have highlighted that fact. While I support the motion, I am disappointed that Fianna Fáil could not have a positive input and ensure that the matter was redressed in some small way so that the affected women would get some start and be recognised in the way they should be.

Let me give an example of what is happening. Two sisters went to work at the same time in the 1970s. One of them had a stamp paid for her while the other girl worked in the black economy. The woman who worked in the black economy, when she went back to work in the late 1980s or early 1990s, is getting a full pension while the other, who paid her stamps, has had her pension cut by €30 or €40. That is very wrong.

See this speech in context