Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I very much welcome her comment on the care credit, which is something I have pushed for years since my time with Older and Bolder and the National Women's Council of Ireland. I am very happy this is on the agenda in terms of the total contributions approach, which is good to hear. I am also glad to hear in regard to the auto-enrolment model that the Minister is looking at a three-part contribution from employees, employers and, of course, the State. That three-part element, whatever way it may finally be constructed, is an important principle.

In recognition of the fact the Minister is moving forward and that we will be looking extensively at this area of pensions, I will not be pressing this amendment at this point. However, I would note that, nonetheless, despite these wonderful visions for the future, we have a cohort in Ireland who are deeply disadvantaged and we cannot simply wait for them to move on up to 2020. There is a cohort of people who are suffering inequality every single time they go to get their pension and, on a weekly basis, they are feeling the impact of that inequity. In some cases, it is those who have this as a very small independent income and who may not be able to apply for the non-contributory pension, for example, because of their partner's means or other forms of means but for whom, individually, their pension represents the message the State sends to them about how their contribution over their lifetime has been valued.

I will be continuing to press in respect of the homemaker's credit. This applies to older women and men across Ireland. The Minister is right that there are men, particularly those who worked and travelled, for example, in England, for years and then returned, and who are disadvantaged by this averaging system. I know they will continue to campaign. One of the strongest signals the State can send in order to build confidence in the new auto-enrolment and total contributions systems - while it would be costly financially, it would be important symbolically - would be to send the signal that we have addressed a past inequity. That would set a very positive tone for our better strategies as we move forward. I know that is not within the Minister's gift at this point but I would like to mention it.