There has been no decision on the number of years required to qualify for a maximum rate pension under the Total Contributions Approach that will apply from 2020, and so the question of publicising such a decision does not, at this point, arise. This issue was, in fact, one of the matters the consultation sought opinions on, and those opinions will inform the final design of that scheme.
The consultation process on the proposed reforms which dates back to October 2007 was extensive and included the then Government publishing the Green Paper on Pensions, conducting regional seminars, a national conference, and consultation meetings with sectoral interests as well as the written submissions.
The Framework model arising from that did propose a 30 year requirement for a maximum rate pension under a Total Contributions Approach (TCA) from 2020, but it also had less generous HomeCaring provisions, which would have seen that reform significantly disadvantage many women who had spent time outside the labour market raising their children. I believe that this would be unfair, given legacy issues around the marriage bar and the availability of childcare.
I launched the public consultation on the design of the TCA on the 28th of May to which stakeholder groups were invited. A number of workshops were also held on the day to elicit views and feedback. Members of the media were also there and the consultation was featured extensively on broadcast and written media.
All Oireachtas members were also invited to a briefing in Leinster House. The consultation was open for over 3 months and we received almost 300 responses from individuals and organisations including open written submissions. Those submissions outlined the views of respondents upon a number of issues, including the number of years required for a full pension, as intended as part of the consultation process.
Analysis of the views submitted is being finalised. When I have considered this analysis, I will bring a proposal to Government in due course, and the scheme will be introduced through the standard democratic process, and the policy choices will, I believe, be broadly debated by members of the Oireachtas. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
