Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As Deputy Jonathan O'Brien noted, a similar amendment was ruled out of order. We have a later amendment which pre-empts the Minister's decision with a view to preparing a report. When this was published in December last year, there was an expectation on the part of many that they would be able to avail of an interim measure. Yet, one year later, it has not been enacted and the light has been turned out for a whole cohort of people who had an expectation. While I acknowledge the amendments as proposed may be a charge on the State, we are asking that the Minister would prepare a remedy or a suite of measures that might be possible within a few months, in light of the acknowledgment of the commitment that was made this time last year but, unfortunately, was not acted upon in time through enabling legislation. We ask that there would be some procedure for those caught in that bind.