Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We have not quite managed it in all areas but in terms of equal pay, the maternity aspect and so on, Europe has been extraordinarily good to us. We cannot pick and choose in that respect. It would be lovely if we could but we cannot do that.

In terms of Senator Quinn's observation, it was clearly pointed out that it will only apply to private pensions, which is a very small portion, and as we know, fewer women than men take out private pensions. It will not apply to work-based pensions.

The Central Bank has a good deal of statistics on the cost of accidents, the age of people involved in accidents and whether they are male or female and we will send those to the Senator.

On the general theme of gender, it does not give me any joy to say that insurance costs for women will increase. The suspicious side of my brain tells me that is what will happen but it should not automatically follow. We have sufficient protections in the Bill in terms of the National Consumer Agency, the Equality Authority and the Central Bank. It is something that must be given particular attention in the first 12 months.

There is no retrospection in terms of the Bill. For instance, it cannot apply to life insurance, health insurance, car insurance or any of the insurances covered that were taken out before 21 December. We made that very clear and ensured that in this amendment Bill we do not want the unintended consequence to apply.

If we are serious about equality we need to put on a blindfold.