Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)

I would like to speak on amendments Nos. 26 and 27 in my name. There is some confusion owing to printing errors in the amendment list. However, they are of a piece with amendment No. 25 tabled by Deputies Penrose and Seán Ryan.

I would like to add something rather than repeat previous speakers' points on the community welfare officers scheme. It is important that we apply the principle of natural justice that one should not be a judge in one's own court. Having direct employees of the Department — which is at least being double-guessed, if not examined — as community welfare officers is not optimum line management. The Opposition is very much of one voice on this issue, and it is unfortunate that in a Bill of this type, which introduces necessary increases in some social welfare payments, we should be divided on an issue at the core of how services are delivered to those in need.

Even at this late stage, I ask that the amendments be accepted and that the obvious discontent that exists among community welfare officers be properly addressed, with an ongoing process put in place to examine how the service might best be delivered without making a rash decision and subsequently turning this into an unavoidable election issue.

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