Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I was simply thinking aloud as I look at the Senators. However, intelligent software is being used. A number of Members asked the reason fingerprinting or iris recognition technology were not used, as the latter also is available and is used in many places of employment. I found a system that had been commissioned and tendered for when I came into the Department but which had not been commenced. The Department had been talking about doing this stuff for at least ten years and I felt it was very important that it be done now. Incidentally, the card has a lot of capacity to store a huge amount of data, including, for instance, people's interaction with the health services, should those services decide to utilise it down the road, as well as information with regard to education services. There is a huge amount of data capacity on the cards and while it can be upgraded in respect of stronger identification, let us get the system first.

As for pensioners and people in receipt of invalidity benefit, the only complaint I have heard from pensioners concerns a proposal to use the biometric system that is in use for passports, as this would particularly facilitate pensioners. However, a couple of pensioners have told me they would prefer fresh photographs and an opportunity to get their hair done because they did not think their current passport photograph does them justice. I think we all have had moments like that. While I will bear in mind people's comments, we are trying to facilitate people through the use of passports because, as Members are aware, there is not a great problem of fraud in respect of people who are retired or are in receipt of very long-term payments. All the studies the Department has undertaken in this regard have shown this to be the case.

Last year, Senators supported me strongly with regard to the checks at the airport and to give social welfare officers the power to stop people. The policy is working very well and the social welfare inspectors at the airports have undertaken a significant amount of work in questioning people, with the result that a number of those cases already have come before the courts. Some involve people from abroad who lived in Ireland and then return even though they have gone back to live abroad. Others have involved Irish people who have gone abroad to work but who continue to return to claim.

All such fraud undermines the position of claimants, particularly the retired who rely on social welfare in most cases for their principal income.

On pensions, we are, as I stated, looking at the issues arising. There is a great deal of work ongoing in the Department. I would hope to come back at a later stage on it. We are also getting the funding proposals, which have to be in by 30 June. That will give us much more information.

On Sinn Féin's position on the transition arrangements for lone parents, I repeat that it is really important we change to an active system which enables lone parents to go back to education as soon as possible. The most successful lone parents tend to be those who have a great deal of family or community support in order to stay in education or return to education and training as soon as possible. Many older lone parents for whom that period is over frequently express regret to me that they did not go back earlier in order to build for themselves the possibility of a better paid job with a better status. Sinn Féin takes a different view, but I am telling Senator Ó Clochartaigh what many women express to me and, I am sure, to some of the women Senators here.