Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Kenny raised several questions. We will announce the scheme's full details today, dealing with all aspects that have come to light to date. I have been part of a Cabinet sub-committee with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, and the Attorney General. We have met several times to discuss making this an easy, transparent process that is facilitative and not adversarial. We are trying to make it as simple as possible and have examined the best ways to make payments.

Records do not exist in all cases; that is an important point. In many of the hospitals and institutions there do not seem to be many records at all, so the process will not be easy. We are considering the use of an outside agency with experience in mass claims. Many of them exist, since this has happened elsewhere. It will take time and require a legislative base. That legislation is now being prepared. I have no doubt that more cases will arise over time that will require examination, but in the last number of months a wide range of claims has come in on the telephone line regarding different aspects. We have tried to cover all those in today's announcement.

Paying back exactly the amount that people paid may be burdensome rather than easy. One of the things that we examined, which will be in today's document, is giving 80% of the contributory pension claim to try to ease payments. We have considered how we can do it in the most efficient way possible. It will take time, and if money is required this year, a Supplementary Estimate will have to be made. However, before the process is set up, we will have to tender for a claims group to do it. It will obviously have to work under the guidance of the HSE, however. If that legislation is passed in the autumn I do not envisage a great amount being paid out this year. However, it should be up and running on a full-year basis next year to deal with claims.

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