Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 5, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following:

"1.—The Minister shall within 6 months from after the passing of this Act prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on continued anomalies affecting persons who were recipients of deserted wife's benefit.".

My colleague, Deputy Seán Ryan, has been very insistent about this amendment. He indicated that only a small number of people are affected and eloquently articulated the exact anomaly to the Minister on Committee Stage last Tuesday. The amendment proposes that the Minister deal with anomalies whereby people could find themselves in a worse situation as a result of some of the recent changes he has made. The number of people affected is declining and I ask the Minister to keep the matter under review, as he indicated he would.

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