There are many issues involved in pensions. My colleague, Minister of State, Deputy Durkan, has a keen interest in this area and is keeping a sharp eye on developments in the Department in relation to the report from the National Pensions Board. The board made a wide range of recommendations to the Department and these are currently being assessed. I am not in a position to indicate what might be done about any element until the review is complete.
I am sure the Deputy appreciates that no matter what is done in that area, it will have a knock-on effect and create demands and anomalies in other parts of the system. If any changes are made, they must be progressive and not create anomalies or injustices for other people in the system. In particular, we must avoid a situation where people who, for whatever reason — perhaps they were not permitted to or did not think it worthwhile — may have avoided paying social insurance contributions for most of their lives could buy into the system at a very low cost but have the same rights as someone who paid contributions throughout their working life.