Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her reply. She is correct in her remarks on pensioners. Those with whom I dealt in Kildare on this matter were very persistent, and rightly so. This was one of the few issues on which there was no counterargument to those who raised the matter at clinics. There was an inherent unfairness in the measures and that cut people to the bone because they felt their contribution to the State, the role they played and the choices they made throughout their lives were being questioned. I welcome that this is being addressed. I welcome the confirmation that the 67,000 letters will be issued as closely together as possible because, notwithstanding the size of the undertaking, it will cause consternation if some people receive letters but others do not for three or four weeks thereafter.

I ask that consideration be given to one of the bugbears for those affected, namely, that announced increases in the pension - of €5, for example - do not apply to their pensions in full because they are on a reduced amount. If there is to be an increase in the pension announced in the forthcoming budget, I ask that the full amount be given to all those in receipt of a State pension because that anomaly has driven home the inequality of the system to date.

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