Proposals to address pensions discrimination ‘by December’

The Government has promised to put forward proposals to address, by December, pension rules which discriminate against tens of thousands of women amid claims that it deliberately ignored the crisis in Budget 2018.

The Tánaiste, Frances Fitzgerald, made the commitment after opposition parties rounded on the Government after it indicated in the budget any changes that may take place could be delayed until 2020.

During leaders’ questions debate yesterday, the opposition demanded immediate incremental changes, at least, to assist 35,000 women who are €35 a week worse off through no fault of their own. Ms Fitzgerald asserted that the Government in no way supports “gender discrimination”.