Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I made the point that some people had been in the workplace, went to claim their State pension and suddenly found they owed money from eight years previously when they were on jobseeker's allowance and claimed an adult dependant. They might ask why they had not been told so they could pay it back rather than be hit with the debt when drawing a pension. As a Deputy, I have found that sometimes somebody advises a person to verify how a debt arose. A local office's paperwork on a claim from ten years previously is consulted about a claim the person says he or she did not make. The evidence is not always up to scratch on the old stuff. The Department probably has to take a pragmatic view on some of that stuff if the old records are not great.

We have covered great ground. We have discussed five chapters of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report, as well as the Department's annual accounts and the social insurance fund. I did not think we would get through it all today. I consistently have to compliment this Department. The officials have answered questions and provided all the information sought. In due course we will get anything they have not provided. That has added to the smooth running of the meeting. It allows them to get all the answers out and it allows us to get all our work done. I originally thought this would take two meetings over two days. A couple of organisations are very good when they appear before the committee, and it helps the smooth running of the committee. I thank everyone from this Department, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Revenue Commissioners and the staff of the Comptroller and Auditor General.