Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge that a great effort has been made and that it does work for so many people who were carrying out that hugely important caring role, but there are situations that arise where a person cannot make up 20 years. Those cases very likely involve people who took on the caring role later in life – in their 40s, 50s or later – and they cannot make up the 20 years by the time they reach pension age.

A case in point is Mike, who worked with the HSE. He retired in his 50s in order to care for his wife and he will be unable to make up the 20 years by the time he reaches pension age, and therefore he will not qualify and will have a very reduced income. He will face a situation where he is means-tested, which will leave him in a disadvantaged position. Such carers play a hugely significant role.

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