Caít Keane (Fine Gael)

Yes. The requirement is not for 520 contributions but 260. Either Senator White took that up wrong or she was reading from an old script. I appreciate it has been corrected. It is important for everyone to be informed, myself included. In respect of section 6, at a time when changes are being introduced to State pensions, such as the new rate, which reflects the level of contributions paid over a working life, it is essential that a consistent approach is applied to all relevant schemes across the social welfare code. Everybody would like if individuals qualified for the State pension with zero contributions.