Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply and ask him to arrange for the officials to circulate the speaking note that he just read out. That would be very helpful because there was a lot of information contained therein. I will seek out the 2011 report that was presented to the EMC. I hear what the Minister is saying and agree that there is a need for a much broader debate on the issue. A lot of people are living in the here and now and are dealing with a crisis in their lives at this point in time, whether that be business debts, mortgages, loss of employment or ill health. The Minister can understand people's desire to tap into funds that they have put away themselves and that their current or previous employers might also have contributed to. It is a very understandable human desire. I can also understand the policy requirement from Government to protect benefits down the road so as not to be building up liabilities for the State in the years ahead. I welcome the step the Minister has taken.

It is very limited but let us see how it goes. I will study the report and I might frame some proposals for the Minister in that regard.