Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

While we are not discussing the entire Bill and are here to discuss a limited amendment from the Seanad, what has drawn most attention to the Bill is section 16. The only reason for my contribution is to ask whether that provision could be extended to others, such as the garda referred to on the front of today's Irish Independent, or those drawing social welfare who have limited time in which to claim particular grants. No one is suggesting that someone entitled to a pension should be prevented from drawing it down when he or she has paid into a particular scheme. Will the Minister consider extending the section to deal with people in a similar position? Even if the amount of money involved is not as significant as in the current case, it is significant to them.

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