Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

While I have been giving out about his boss, I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Cullen, today on having the reins of power in the House of Parliament. We all know the country is in safe hands. As a former Minister for Transport, will he give the House an update on the position in so far as the roll-out of speed cameras is concerned under the appropriate legislation? I understand that the chairman of the national Road Safety Authority is most upset about this. He accepted that job on the basis that the Government would provide the money and would deliver.

In respect of his Department, the social welfare lone parent and other low income families reform Bill is necessary legislation. As there is no publication date will the Minister indicate when it might emerge into the light? In his capacity as Minister for Social and Family Affairs and knowing that payments are important to people, the national rehabilitation board was dissolved in 2000 by the Minister for Health and Children. The persons employed there under the local government superannuation scheme paid into a fund from which they were entitled to draw entitlements. Those entitlements were denied them. One member of staff brought the matter to the High Court and the determination was that his position was abolished and a redundancy was caused. Approximately 200 others are involved.

This has been on the stocks for the past seven or eight years. It is a matter of principle and of political morality in that people are entitled to draw from the superannuation fund into which they paid. In his capacity as head of Government in the House today, will the Minister, Deputy Cullen, ensure this is examined? Despite employment inquiries and a High Court decision, only one member of the former staff has received his due entitlements.

As the Minister is aware, the board was abolished by the Minister for Health and Children, having been set up by that Minister. Nobody will accept responsibility for this mess. The Minister knows that people are entitled to draw from funds into which they pay, in this case the local government superannuation fund. Perhaps through his good offices and in his capacity as Minister for Social and Family Affairs, he will ensure that this matter, which has been raised by Deputy Doyle and others, is followed through so these people get the entitlements which they are due.

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