Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for his clarification. As I said, these questions are being raised on every doorstep, as I am sure my constituency colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, will confirm. In respect of people on social welfare, pensioners and people on low incomes, do I take it from the Tánaiste's reply that the question of their ability to pay will definitely be a feature of the new regime? Can I also deduce from the Tánaiste's reply that under the estimated system, which will apply to three quarters of households when the charge kicks in on 1 October, if what is payable is more than households would otherwise have paid, then a rebate system will apply? Finally, will the Tánaiste indicate when the Government will be in a position to publish the legislation?

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