Pension anomaly again in spotlight; Government loses key vote after Fianna Fáil opposition

The Government is facing mounting pressure to address the State pension gender discrimination case after losing a Dáil vote on the issue.

The defeat of its counter-motion opposing a Fianna Fáil bill saying the pension ‘anomaly’ be addressed immediately, by 44 votes to 85, came on a damaging day which saw two other Dáil vote defeats on local authority boundary changes and animal welfare — but previously announced water charges changes passed.

In the aftermath of the outrage last week over the fact some women are €35 per week worse off due to a long-standing flaw in existing rules linked to career breaks and related matters, on Wednesday Fianna Fáil put a bill to the Dáil to address the issue. The bill, proposed by Fianna Fáil social protection spokesperson Willie O’Dea, called for the pension ‘anomaly’ be corrected, changes made in 2012 affecting women to be reversed, and that men and women’s pension contributions are treated equally.