Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

There is a high rate of success on appeal in the social welfare area, particularly in respect of disability payments. Essentially, the problem goes further back. There is a non-acceptance of medical evidence and the case then has to be reassessed. This is where a consultant says somebody has an illness that will continue for 12 months, and, in any case, the person will not qualify for, say, invalidity pension unless the disability is going to be continuous for a period of not less than 12 months. While the consultant says that and the GP backs that up, the case can still be rejected. The Chairman has seen this himself.