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

There is a recommendation in the pensions commission's report on family carers and we will take that into consideration in totality with the other recommendations in the report. I am confident that the Government will agree a response to the commission's report. We will do so in order that people in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s can retire in the knowledge that there will be a State pension for them when they do so. In the past, people retired and claimed the pension for ten or 12 years, but now it is probably closer to 30 years. The reality is that people are living a lot longer, which is a good thing, but it is does present its own challenges. If we do not make the system more sustainable now, the young people of today, who are in their 20s and 30s, may not get a State pension. We must look down the road. It is not a challenge that is unique to this country. Governments all over the world are dealing with this issue. It will be addressed. I am consulting with my Cabinet colleagues, and I will bring a recommendation to the Government.

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