Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that answer. I do not for one second deny the complexities involved in pensions policy, provision and reform. I am not challenging that, but the Minister needs to understand the absolute simplicity of the case being made by those who are gathering at the gates of Leinster House. The simple fact is that the changes introduced when Fine Gael was in government in 2012 are costing approximately 40,000 citizens as much as €30 a week in some cases. That is a lot of money for people on limited incomes.

Deputy Brady informs me that the paper of which the Minister spoke will be presented to a Cabinet committee today and is due before the full Cabinet next Tuesday. Will the Government provide the €70 million required to correct this matter? I would like a straight "Yes" or "No" answer to that question. I ask the Minister not to hide behind other anomalies or quirks in the system that need to be dealt with or use them as an excuse for not doing right by the people concerned. The Government must show us the money to make this right.

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