Michael Brennan (Progressive Democrats)

I indicated yesterday that I am interested in this subject and that I have held a number of meetings in my Department with a view to progressing it. The Senator will recall that, in 2002, a working group recommended the introduction of arrangements that would pay for the splitting of payments on a consensual basis. That is now up and running.

Measures have been introduced over a number of years to ensure that as many people as possible qualify for pensions in their own rights. These include the reduction of the yearly average of contributions required for pension purposes from 20 to ten, the half-way pension for the self-employed and the special pre-53 pensions.

In 1994, a homemaker's scheme was introduced which provides for a disregard of up to 20 years of homemaking when determining the yearly average test for old-age contributory pensions. The Senator's amendment specifically concerns making the payment a direct one on a mandatory basis. Serious administrative and policy issues arise in that regard but, if I can resolve these, I will try to progress it over the coming months.