John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not want to get into an argument with the Minister on this issue. The Minister seems to think it was an anomaly that arose from the 2012 changes. I argue against that; it was a clearly designed measure taken in the full knowledge of the impact it would have on our pensioners, especially on women. There is no question about that in my mind, in the view of the many organisations that are actively campaigning to change this, and in the minds of the many people who are directly impacted. The Minister may have alternative views on this aspect but I believe it was a conscious decision taken at the time.

The Minister may be aware of the huge pressure that is being applied. A press conference is taking place as we are here in the Chamber. A protest will take place outside the Dáil tomorrow morning and afternoon. The Minister has an opportunity to make this change. If and when these changes come in, we need clarity as to whether they will be retrospective and backdated to 1 January this year or to 2012. Those are big questions and challenges for the Minister but we need clarity on them. Hopefully, the Minister will get this proposal though the Cabinet sub-committee tomorrow and the full Cabinet next Tuesday. The 42,000 affected need this change. They needed that change yesterday. This issue cannot be allowed to be kicked down the road any further. The change introduced in 2012 represented a huge disservice given that it was introduced in the full knowledge of the impact it would have.

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