Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I accept the Minister of State is speaking on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality and can give no commitment. I know the Minister of State to be a fair-minded person and I think she will agree with me that to deny a small number of people a constitutional right is totally unacceptable. I feel there is some cynicism on this issue in so far as the relevant parties are aware that these elderly people, who are over the age of 70, are in no position to mount a constitutional challenge to a denial of their entitlement. I would like the Minister of State to relay the matter back to the relevant Department.

Pensions are something I hold very dear to my heart so I will not leave the matter alone. If I need to find somebody to raise this as a constitutional issue for these people, I will do it. I would much rather see it resolved than see people suffer the loss of what they paid into and what they were entitled to. Will the Minister of State to relay that back to the Minister? I do not expect her to make any comments.