Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)

The Minister of State said the system is similar to that which operates in the Department of Social and Family Affairs. However, as I understand it, the appeals system provided for under this legislation is a written system. The appeals system in the Department of Social and Family Affairs involves an oral hearing where an appellant appears before an inspector, who is totally independent of the Department. Therefore, it is incorrect to say the appeals systems are similar. Under the system operated by the Department of Social and Family Affairs an appellant can bring a public representative, solicitor or family member to the hearing, sit down with the inspector and tease out the problems. I have always praised the appeals system for social welfare claimants precisely because it allows people to tease out problems. My understanding of the legislation before us is that the appeals process is a written system that is not in any way comparable to the social welfare appeals system.

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