Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

The explanatory memorandum outlines the introduction of a four-year time limit. Why is the Minister imposing a time limit? People make a contribution to their State pension. I have received telephone inquiries about this section in the context of the return of contributions as outlined in section 8(3). Is the Minister in some way creating a back-door system to deprive people of their entitlements? We are changing the goalposts as set out under existing provisions. I look forward to hearing the Minister's explanation on self-employment contributions.

As someone who has been involved in part-time employment, who was made temporary whole-time and then permanent, before changing to the Oireachtas, I am aware that the issue of pension contributions is a difficult one. I do not claim to be well versed in economics, but I know from dealing with officials in the Department of Social and Family Affairs that if one misses a deadline, one gets caught up in loopholes. It is a conundrum. I would like the Minister to respond on the issue of retrospective payment. I am concerned that the insertion in the Bill of a time limit on the return of contributions will create a knock-on effect and penalise people in the context of this budget being a computer printout to balance the books. I would like the Minister to outline her rationale for this change.