Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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It is approximately 450. I do not disagree with the Deputy in regard to the length of time it has taken. I appreciate that we are being facilitated today. I accept it has gone on too long. The Bill was published in July and, unfortunately, we got to this situation due to the fact we do not order the business in the House for Second Stage. We are here to try to get this completed as soon as possible, notwithstanding the legitimate concerns that have been raised and the pre-existing commitments given when the Bill was published and when the Government decision was made last December in regard to those who entered into the interim arrangements, which were well understood.

As important, if not more important, there is the position of those who did not enter into the interim arrangements because they were told they were just interim arrangements. Given the number of people who retire on an annual basis, it would be desperately unfair to rewind and say we will now have to reopen the whole thing, which would be one of the remedies we would have to consider. The Bill would then be in a very difficult position and we would probably not be able to carry it forward. All of that new cohort of people who, from 1 January, are hoping to be able to avail of this will not be able to avail of it. That is the bind we are in.

I will come to Deputy Cowen's suggestion when his amendment is raised. We are prepared to lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas within three months, or whatever is agreed on Committee Stage, to see how this is working. However, to do that may require legislative remedies which we cannot pre-empt at present.