Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

The forthcoming budget in December may contain a welcome provision whereby there will be an income disregard for the first €100 of a non-contributory old age pension. While I welcome this I am surprised that people on small supplementary pensions do not have the same benefit. I would like the Minister for Finance to consider this and perhaps we could hold a debate on some of these provisions. It is most unfair that a person on a widow's pension might receive a small supplementary pension of €30 or €40 a week but have it taken away in the means test for a non-contributory old age pension.