Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses and thank them for taking time out to be here. Mr. Regan and I have spoken many times down through the years. I always found him very helpful. He has experience of the current scheme. How does he think any new scheme could develop? What were the pitfalls, if any, of the old scheme that he would like to be addressed in any new scheme? That information would be important.

I have a question for Mr. Quigley. The merits of the scheme are beyond doubt. Everyone has sung its praises. I have spoken to many members of the Defence Forces who have used the scheme and the witnesses deserve great credit for setting it up. It has been a huge success.

I speak for all the committee members in saying that part of the reason we have the witnesses here today is our commitment to ensuring that this EU scheme is implemented by the Government and that it addresses the needs not just of the Defence Forces but also of the general public. In the context of the extension of the scheme to family members, I know the credit union has an internal system. Would the witnesses envisage that any potential new scheme would have the capacity to be extended to family members, as well as to serving members?