Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 5, line 7, to delete "(including statutory declarations)".

I asked the Minister of State about this matter on Committee Stage. Why are we putting elderly patients through the need to see solicitors or commissioners for oaths to get application forms signed as statutory declarations? It would be an unnecessary burden. The Minister of State stated on Committee Stage that this provision might be needed in some cases, but he has not clarified what proportion of cases would cause us to target elderly people in this way or make the system more bureaucratic. Will the Minister of State give the House additional information?

See this speech in context