Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome all the guests before the committee and I thank them for the opening statements they prepared. Along with the Chair, I also want to welcome former Tánaiste Joan Burton to the committee. Ms Burton has done excellent work in the area.

Mr. Rodgers's concern deals with head No. 5 of the general scheme of the Bill, which is payments to people who are ordinarily resident outside the State. It is a difficult issue and I thank him for bringing it to the attention of the committee. My assessment is that we probably require an amendment of legislation in the UK to ensure with certainty that people who receive the payment are not going to be affected. Would Mr. Rodgers agree with that and does he believe there is a possibility of that?