Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to join in the debate because this issue of the unfair treatment of women in respect of their State pensions has been well known by many people for a long number of years. I have raised this matter in the Dáil on several occasions over recent years, both in the Chamber and by way of parliamentary question. I would go so far as to say that it is not an anomaly. It was actually a decision by the previous Fine Gael-Labour Party Government to attack women.

During the course of 2012 and 2013, I responded to the various budget statements issued by the then Ministers, Deputy Noonan and Deputy Howlin. On all occasions we highlighted a lack of gender proofing. There was a concerted attack on women by the previous Government. It did this to hit people - females - who were coming to pension age and who wanted the full State contributory pension. During that period, the Government also cut child benefit, which was payable in practically every case to the mother. The Government also cut the one-parent family payment, which in practically all cases was payable to the mother. The Government actually reduced the maximum qualifying age of the child at which a mother can claim the one-parent family payment. There was a concerted attack on women's rights by Fine Gael and the Labour Party when they were in government last time around. It is no wonder we are here today.

We have raised this time after time. We have asked for these issues to be dealt with. Essentially, we all know the situation. Women who have worked for their full lives, some of whom have worked more than other colleagues in the workforce, get less of a pension because their years of contribution are averaged out, in some cases over 51 years. This came to my attention first when the State pension of a lady was cut by €30 per week, which is €1,500 per annum. This was all because she did three weeks of work when she was a teenager during the summer holidays. Had she not worked, she would have got a full pension.

This system is perverse. It penalises people who work early in their lives. It penalises women and it needs to be reversed. We want a timetable for when the Government will address this. It is unanimous that this has to be dealt with. I call on the Government to give us the timetable. If a Supplementary Estimate is required, we will assist in that.

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