Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is clear the Minister of State is not accepting the amendments. However, where there is a failure to respond to the payment claim, there is a strong case for using every lever one can to incentivise the honouring of that amount and that is the purpose of this proposal. While the Minister of State has not said this, it in no way compromises any of the other procedures or processes envisaged in the Bill. It in no way undermines the spirit of the legislation and I believe it strengthens it. While I have listened to the Minister of State's response, I do not consider it to be a compelling argument not to accept the amendments.