Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

There is a very obvious approach in this regard and I do not believe there is any objection from anyone in receipt of social welfare. The small smart card has been introduced for medical card holders and again that should have a photograph, but that is a detail. The technology exists and it is not rocket science to introduce those changes as quickly as possible.

Regarding social welfare fraud, there has been an increase in the number of people sending in requests and information, some of it not very accurate. I know the social welfare officers would be aware that some people would be concerned about their neighbours' well-being and have submitted complaints. The Minister has certainly received many complaints and requests in this regard, which is a reasonable point of view. The principle of the social welfare system is that no one is entitled to claim social welfare without being entitled to it. I am delighted with the clarifications in this regard. Some people who have contacted me are deeply concerned about the contributory situation and the average system. The proposal was that there would be a change in 2020 such that all contributions would be considered.

Many people are entitled to British social welfare but are not claiming it, a matter I have raised previously. They may have worked in Britain for ten years, for instance, and may be entitled to claim. They may have included that in their claim for contributory Irish pension working in close collaboration with the British system, which is fair enough. However, a number of people are not in receipt of a pension from the British Government. I ask the Minister to update the position. I have brought it to people's attention and while the amounts have not been great some people have received an extra small contribution from Britain for the work they did. I believe the same applies to the United States. The British system is very streamlined as is the Irish system.

I compliment the Minister, her Department and previous Ministers, in particular Dr. Michael Woods who introduced quite an innovation with computerisation. The system is very effective and the system for Oireachtas support, which the Minister introduced, is working very well. It is very public-friendly and I commend the Minister on that. It is important to get a speedy assessment of social welfare. I believe the Minister is saying that whatever is proposed in this House on Committee Stage in order to make the system fair and effective is worthy of consideration.

I return to the issue of reducing the age limit to seven. I believe she will change that provision in the future because it is not practical to have it as low as seven. There is time to work on that in the meantime and we will table amendments on Committee Stage.