Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It should be no mystery as to why we have an emerging or extent pensions crisis in Ireland, because pensions were always calculated on the basis that people would pay into the system for 30, 40 or 50 years and only need pensions for a few years. We are now in a very different space. The last thing we need to do is make reforms or reverse some of the reforms that made things better for people who are just about pension age but will damage people who are aged 30, 40 and 50.

The risk is that changes can be made to the law that works for people who are about to retire in the next couple of years, but which will pull the ladder up and empty the pot for people aged in their 20s, 30s and 40s. That is why all of these things need to be considered in their totality.

Pensions will be a major issue in 2017. I intend to make them so, and stated many months ago that once the budget and this Bill were completed my focus for the next six months of new year, before the next budget negotiations start, will be the working family payment, pension reform and further measures around employment and welfare to work.

We need to bear in mind that any changes that incur a cost mean the cost has to be borne by someone, and we need to be honest about that. It is not honest to come into the Dáil or Seanad as a Deputy or Senator and demand that such and such be done without saying how that will be paid for. It may not be helpful to talk about winners or losers, but perhaps it is true. Perhaps sometimes when one changes rules there are winners and losers. We need to be honest about that and assess who the winners and losers would be and what the impact would be. Maybe some people should be losers, but we cannot always come into the House and demand higher costs and spending without saying how they will be funded or always demand changes and only discuss those that benefit from them without referring to those who may lose out.

Senator Ardagh asked about the amendment tabled by 15 Senators. It was ruled out of order by the Cathaoirleach, according to the Order of the House. I did not rule it out of order. If there is an issue, it is one Senators need to discuss amongst themselves and not involve me directly.