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

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 5, line 29, to delete “52 contribution weeks” and substitute “39 contribution weeks”.

This is similar to amendment No. 3. I am surprised it was ruled out of order because the principle is more or less the same. I will not have a long debate about this, but the argument is that the qualifying contributions for a self-employed person are more onerous than for an employed person. I know the Minister will tell me the qualifying conditions are different, but perhaps she will explain to me why that is the case. All of the amendments we have tabled propose that there be equality in terms of access to the pension regardless of whether a person is employed or unemployed. I know the Minister will say the qualifying criteria are different, but perhaps she will explain why.

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