David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Maher referred to six months. That is 15 months overall by which the whole matter has to be finalised. It was stated earlier that cases might be retained where, based on medical evidence, the prognosis cannot be interpreted within the statutory timelines. We are adding six months on to the nine months that are already provided. I understand the issue where a payment is made and the claim is extinguished and cannot be revisited. We probably need more clarity on this particular issue. In some instances, medical conditions can arise much later. I am talking about epilepsy and conditions like that. They can get worse. Without medical evidence at the time, as it says in the guidelines, if it cannot be determined within the statutory timelines, that might need to be revisited.