Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I accept the majority of what the Minister is saying. It is unfortunate for persons who find themselves at a point when they know that they are facing into a reduced rate pension and they are seeking this. I note the example the Minister gave of somebody who may have been, for example, the spouse of a person in the UK who has returned. In terms of financial independence, a number of people would prefer to contribute to have an adequate contributory pension in their own right rather than find themselves in a position, for example, of looking for the non-contributory pension, which is an option that comes with somewhat less independence in that it involves means testing of the full household etc. There are people who did not know about the increase in the requirement from 260 contributions to 520 contributions and who found themselves unable to make contributions. I accept it is a small cohort.