John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am glad we are making the progress we are. It might be a bit slow but I take the point that the measure required the legislation. From the Minister's comments, I take it that a common sense approach will apply to persons who might not be able to supply documentary evidence for periods of missing contributions where they may have been caring for a parent or someone other than a child. That was my interpretation of what the Minister said she intended.

I am pleased to see the proposed legislation contains the provision for payments to be backdated to March 2018, which is what the Minister said in her reply. Unfortunately the legislation does not provide a payment or a commencement date. This is a matter for the Minister. I welcome the backdated payment is in the legislation.

I have one final concern. As there is a period of up to 20 years allowed in this measure for caring - I acknowledge this is an interim total contributions system - it indicates that it is being viewed over a 40 year working life cycle. I hope it does not mean this is the policy position in terms of our general pension as we go forward with regard to total contributions proper, rather than the interim measure.

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