Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)

We were not allowed to have calculators at school. The Christian Brothers were great in that regard.

My point is that this requirement must be changed. It is provided for in the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1993. It is Rule 1 of subsection (8)(a) of Part II of the Third Schedule of that Act, as amended by section 3 of the Social Welfare Act 1999. The quicker the Minister introduces the new consolidation Act, the better. It is all right for lawyers to root through the legislation but what about an unfortunate member of the public? It is time to simplify the gobbledegook in social welfare legislation. Often it is difficult to understand the language, which is always phrased negatively: "The person will receive their payment provided they do not...". It is time to be positive. People are entitled to their payments. The system should be positive, facilitative and flexible to ensure they get them.

See this speech in context