Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her presentation on the Bill. Some of my questions have been already asked.

On the UK fuel allowance, I have spent many an hour on the telephone to Newcastle on behalf of many constituents trying to get their details. I ask that the Minister and her officials seek greater co-operation with their counterparts in the UK because there has been long delays in getting that information through, as other Deputies and Senators have said. I welcome that this legislation protects that payment. As mentioned by Deputy Ó Cuív we need to get information out there because many people qualify for this payment in Ireland but are not aware of it. I have come across many of them over the past number of years. It is a substantial payment. As mentioned by the Minister, it is between £100 and £300 sterling and so it would make a difference to those who have an entitlement to it. I ask that the Department encourage its counterparts in the UK to be more co-operative in this regard. As stated by the Chairman and the Minister, respectively, there are only 2,000 hours or 85 days to withdrawal. If there is no agreement, this Bill will still be agreed by both sides. We need to get that message out today because a substantial number of people here are entitled to UK pensions. I welcome that this Bill will secure those payments for them and I again thank the Minister for bringing it before us today.