Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and would be very glad to take up her offer of a meeting. In many instances there was a dramatic change in farm income due to issues like depopulation of a herd or adverse weather conditions. Many of the people involved were filling out their own forms because they were not in a position to engage an accountant to do their paperwork. They often did not read the forms in full. I have gone through this with the people involved and am satisfied that they were not informed by Revenue or the Department of the break in their insurance contributions record. I would be very glad to take up the Minister's offer of a meeting and hope that we can progress this matter in the context of the review of entitlements to contributory pensions.

See this speech in context