asked the Minister for Social Welfare to outline the long-range plans for the development of our social welfare services.

The main areas for development in social welfare services towards which my efforts are directed are: (1) the reform of the pensions system, (2) the extension of social insurance to groups not at present covered, particularly the self-employed, and (3) the progressive implementation of the principle of equal treatment of men and women in social security matters. At the same time part of the development of the social welfare system includes the constant surveillance and regular improvement of existing services.

Has the Minister made any comparison with social welfare benefits in the other EEC countries?

I keep them under constant review but as the Deputy knows it is not too easy to make exact comparisons because the sort of services differ greatly in every country.

Would the Minister not agree that a fairly good comparison can be made having regard to the average industrial earnings in this country and will he agree that we are at the bottom of the league and that the social welfare services are in need of reform?

We can do lots of things, as the Deputy knows, if we have the resources. I would go ahead to improve everything if I had the resources.

Would the Minister consider putting long-range plans before the Government rather than the plans set out?

Long-range plans are all very well but long-range plans for improving the existing social services have to get down to cost so that improvement depends on resources we can make available. The main areas for structural improvement are pensions, the self-employed and the implementation of equal treatment. Those are three big jobs on hands.

Does the Minister have in mind pay-related pensions for the aged?

What we are tackling is a national pension scheme.

Is the Minister aware that we are the only State in Europe with a flat-rate old age pension?

I am not so aware. That is the next major step we hope to take and we are positively engaged in taking it at the moment.

Would the Minister agree that a Minister for Social Welfare of vision would be looking towards long-range plans for the improvement and the development of our social welfare services?

Long-range plans are all right, but these are the immediate tasks in front of us and they are fairly formidable tasks.

Question No. 32.

When the Minister nodded his head——

The Deputy cannot get up and ask an unlimited number of questions without awaiting a reply.

I agree that the Chair is being very reasonable with me and I am not trying to be obstreperous. When the Minister nodded his head—and a nod does not appear on the Official Report—does that mean that it is his intention to consider pay-related pension schemes for the aged?

That is an essential part——

That is all I wanted to know.

——of the national pension scheme.