Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am trying to answer all questions but I will come back to the committee with answers to any I cannot answer. Whenever I see Senator O'Mahony in the corridor I become embarrassed because he always asks me about this issue. I agree that it is now time for us to proceed with this legislation. The health (transport supports) Bill is very important. When we finalise our discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, we will then need the nod from the entire Government to get it over the line. I will tell Cabinet that I want it done. There will be issues and various people will come up with different ideas, especially in the area of costs. Some of the costs that have been mentioned are extraordinarily high, although others are reasonable. I will not go into detail on which are in which category today because I want to keep my powder dry.

Deputy Brendan Ryan asked if some who qualify at present might be ineligible for the new scheme. We are aiming to continue to pay the existing 4,700 who qualify but there are legal issues attaching to doing so and we are trying to deal with them. Could some people lose out in the future? That would be a concern if a certain piece of legislation went through. If somebody is needier than the 4,700 who qualify at present and we were to take it from the latter cohort to pay the new group, world war three would break out and, in any event, it would be wrong to do it.

In answer to Senator Dolan, the Department was first informed in 2011. I do not have direct answers to his other questions but I will come back to him on them.