Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It does not actually. In a short sojourn in that Department, I made an attempt a number of times to change the situation whereby people had an entitlement because they had an average of more than 21 contributions in a year and qualified for a pension, and people with fewer than 21 contributions qualified for no pension. I contended that it was unconstitutional despite the fact that Departments always make these decisions and arbitrarily decided that there is a cut-off point. I know the Minister has been looking at this. I think it bears another examination. They are

putting together all their contributions, caring for elderly parents and so on, coming out of the workforce and paid employment, and contributing their lives to other people in a particular way. I ask that the Minister look at this again and find out how many people in the last 12 months, for example, have been refused on such a basis.

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