Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 6, lines 2 to 4, to delete all words from and including "at" in line 2 down to and including "section 15" in line 4.

This amendment ensures that the definition of a couple and, therefore, of a partner, continues to apply at all relevant times and not just at the two points in time specified in the published Bill, namely, when making an application or when commencing payments. While those two points in time are critical, as the definition of a couple determines whose income is assessed when an application is made the current wording omits any reference to the timing of reviews under section 17. If a couple separates after the time they were awarded a subsidy and the applicant then seeks a review of the income, it is the applicant's current status as a lone parent that should matter and not his or her status at the time the application was made, namely, when they were still a couple. By deleting any reference to points in time the proposed amendment ensures that the definition will apply at all relevant times.