I propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 321 and 328 together.
Significant improvements have been made over the past decade or so, in addressing certain anomalies in the qualifying conditions for old age (contributory) and retirement pensions.
Most recently, in April 1999, I introduced a special old age (contributory) pension for certain self-employed people who were over 56 on 6 April 1988 – when social insurance for the self-employed was introduced – and in this year's Social Welfare Act, I have provided for a special pension which gives further recognition to contributions paid prior to 1953.
To qualify for either of these payments, a person must have paid a minimum of 260 contributions, or five years. These special arrangements represent, I believe, a sympathetic response to the predicament of some people who could not qualify for a pension in accordance with the standard qualifying conditions.
It is reasonable to expect a person to attain a certain level of contributions over their working career in order to qualify for a contributory-based pension. From an equity perspective, a certain contribution threshold must apply. This not only upholds the social insurance principle, firmly supported by successive Governments, but also affirms the expectations and entitlements of those who have a history of strong attachment to social insurance.
My Department has been reviewing the qualifying conditions for the old age (contributory) and retirement pensions. The Department is, at present, finalising a report on the first phase of this review process and I expect to receive this very shortly. I have already confirmed to the House on a number of occasions that when the report has been considered by the Government, I will report to the House at that stage.