Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I have said on many previous occasions that I will support the Minister's suggestion in that regard, although I suspect he is not getting enough support for it. I believe in the concept that a year's work should have a year's pension contribution or entitlement attached to it. Even if that requires legislation which people from my side of the labour spectrum or people on the other side do not like, it would be the most important decision on pensions in the history of the State. It is crucial.

There is much talk about the European exposure or liability with regard to pensions. As bad as it is here, we are much better off than countries such as Italy and Germany. However, that is no reason to rest on our laurels. The Minister should push forward with his proposal. I hope there will be a move towards that objective in the next budget. IBEC is correct that it will impose costs on employers. The organisation will have to deal with that. Some of the unions will oppose it because they do not want their members paying into it. We should take them all on about this. As a union member and general secretary I have tried to push that concept, unsuccessfully, on many occasions. I still believe in it. It would be a revolutionary change and I compliment the Minister on raising it. I would be delighted to support it wherever the Minister can do it, even if we can only move forward step by step.

I strongly support Senator Bradford's comment that this is not really a party political issue. It always upsets me that social welfare issues become caught in party crossfire. There is a broad consensus on social welfare but there are issues that must be addressed. The carers' issue, which has been mentioned by all speakers in this debate, is hugely important. Everybody supports carers.

I wish to link this to the broader societal shifts that have occurred. The major societal shift is in the structure of our communities. We now have nuclear families and units. When I was a child, if somebody on the street had a serious illness or a family had suddenly fallen into bad times or had some difficulty with a son or daughter in America or in the UK, everybody on the street knew about it and there was a support structure.

If someone was not working for a week due to an aspect of his or her job, some level of support came through at the local shop and various other places. In many areas, these societal and community structures are gone. In towns and cities, particularly Dublin, one could be living next door to a family trying to cope with an extraordinary problem, such as separation, a bereavement, a child with a difficulty or a problem in the extended family, without knowing and with no supports available as a result. This is an additional reason as to why the carers' issue is important.

This motion has to do with the redistribution of society's wealth. The Minister's job in Cabinet is to fight for a fairer redistribution. If benchmarks are to be placed on our society and democracy, one must be how well the disadvantaged, not necessarily economic, and those with dependencies are cared for. I hope that gives grist to the mill, strength to the Minster's elbow. No one must apologise for the Minister for Social and Family Affairs demanding a greater share of the wealth cake when it is redistributed. On the other hand, the Minister and his departmental Accounting Officer have a duty to ensure that money is not wasted. This debate must be about how best can we direct and focus social welfare spending.

The contradictory issues in this debate, such as a lone parent losing certain allowances, gives out the wrong message when we want to have an energetic and buoyant economic community. We must support people who have what is termed a "get up and go" attitude. Similarly people with disabilities, such as the example given by Senator Norris, must not lose out because they take on extra responsibilities and improve themselves. I hope the Minister shares this view.

All dependants, whether they are unemployed, for whatever reason, aged, which we are all facing if we live long enough, people coping with disabilities or their extended family supporting someone coping with a disability, need to have their share. I support the point made by Senator Bradford on the social capital of volunteers. As a large number is involved in voluntary caring, it is important that they are in a structured process, entitling them to build up contribution records through stamps or other appropriate methods. I ask the Minister to bring forward such a system in the forthcoming budget.