Nora Owen
Ceist:431 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the continued sense of anger and annoyance among women who are being discriminated against in relation to pension and other rights under the social welfare code due to the fact that they were out of the workforce caring for children for many years prior to 1994; the proposals he has to alter the existing homemakers scheme to allow women who were out of the workforce before 1994 to become eligible for various social welfare benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12879/00]