Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

The more the Minister of State says, the more unclear is this issue. It is becoming quite opaque. The initial legislation was introduced and the Minister subsequently decided the system was unfair and that she would introduce a new scheme. Are these amendments, which are being tabled at the 11th hour, related to the 15% proposal or the 5% contribution? If so, this is not the way to produce legislation. We are on Report Stage, which should be about tidying up technical matters, but we are trying to tease out this issue. Perhaps the Minister of State's officials will give him a briefing note so he can outline to the House what he is trying to do in these amendments.

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