State Pensions
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-24
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Paula Butterly (FG), Louth

I thank the Minister for offering to look at this in more detail, including specific cases. These women, for decades, did everything that society asked them to do. They worked, stayed at home and took care of their children and other family members. It is really important because it is that cohort of older women, who in many cases could be our own mothers, who do not have their own financial independence. It is maybe means-tested or linked to their spouses' entitlements. That is really unfair and when we talk about equality, we have to give women the recognition for the work they have done inside and outside the home down through the decades. We are in modern times and we keep saying there is more equality but where is the equality for that cohort of women? The only options they had back in the day was the famous pin money or runaway money. Let us give them that comfort.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-24/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:50+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-24