Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

If the Senator allows me to make my contribution he can decide later. It is interesting to note that under successive Ministers for Social and Family Affairs, including the former Minister, Deputy Woods, the introduction of insurance contributions has meant that more pensioners are in receipt of contributory pensions, particularly the self-employed category, which includes farmers. That is a welcome development. That the Minister has been able to secure increases ranging from €10 or €11 for old age pensioners and widows is welcome. Neither did she forget to increase the payments for child benefit. A welcome development in recent years is that most increases are paid early in the year, some from 1 January. Successive Governments have tried to bring the dates forward and have succeeded.