Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I sympathise with the principle of this amendment but the Minister should provide further clarification. How fair is it to place the onus of proof on the individual? What constitutes a substantive issue of sufficient materiality, weight and force? How high is the barrier for the individual? If one felt one had a genuine case to make, what sort of hoops would one have to go through and what assistance would be available to one? Although I feel sympathetic towards the case made, I would like to be convinced that we are fair and just regarding a person with a reasonable case to make.

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