Eamon Scanlon (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, to the House. It is undoubted there is good news in what he has told the House. I welcome the increases for pensioners, especially the increase in the non-contributory old age pension. I am glad the Minister for Finance has announced that the trend which has developed in recent years will continue, and rightly so, for those who worked hard and raised families in difficult times.

I spoke today to a pensioner who worked all his life in this country but who finds himself on a half pension. He was two years short of achieving the contributory pension because he reached the age limit and was not allowed to pay more. Quite a few people are in the same position, mostly farming people. This man has relations in America, England, Scotland and elsewhere who are also being paid a half pension. As he is on a half pension, his wife is also paid a half pension. He feels very aggrieved. While I am not sure what can be done, the issue should be examined.