Tánaiste denies accusations the budget penalised women

TÁNAISTE Eamon Gilmore has denied that the budget targeted women, saying such claims are “unfounded” and “untrue”.

He was responding after Fianna Fáil deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív criticised the decision to reduce the state pension from September of next year for some new claimants.

The reduction will affect new claimants who have a yearly average of less than 48 PRSI contributions. They will receive a lower state pension than those who have more than 48 contributions.