Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In fairness, it has been a busy few months and the Department has been dealing with the situation in Ukraine. We issued 32,000 PPS numbers in recent weeks, put income supports in place for the Ukrainians coming here, and we have worked with them to help them get into employment. Some 2,500 are already working. Today, the Department will administer the new €400 recognition payment. I am working with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, on that.

We have also been responding to other issues such as the cost of living. We have paid the lump sum of €125 and also a lump sum of €100. It has been a busy few weeks, but the pensions work is ongoing and discussions are continuing. In fact, it was discussed at the Cabinet committee again this week. I will be working with my colleagues to bring forward a response to the pensions commission's recommendations as soon as I can. It is fair to say that there are no easy decisions here. Whatever we decide will have far-reaching consequences for many people.

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