Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister. It will go to 260 with effect from July 2013. This will directly impact on women who have left the workforce to rear children. As a result of taking parental leave they have a lower number of PRSI contributions. Combined with reductions in child benefit, back to school allowance and one-parent family allowance, there is very much of an anti-mother bias at play. I do not suggest that the Minister is anti-mother, but we are talking about the economics of the situation and whom it will affect.

I understand that approximately 115,000 people currently claim the pension and that these changes will increase by a considerable amount the payments needed to qualify. It is a major additional criterion for new applicants to satisfy and will disproportionately affect women who live longer than their partners. There seems to be a great deal of opposition to this provision.