Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

We want to pay a flat fee. The representatives of the IPU in their meeting with me two weeks ago said that the €5 flat fee, and the HSE has said not less than €5, is not sufficient and that it was not devised, in their view, through an independent process. It was to address that issue that I decided to establish the group chaired by Mr. Sean Dorgan to examine it in the context of these changes. It will be a matter for the IPU and others to make their case to that group regarding the fee. The group will make its report. There are no limitations on the group and we have given a commitment, subject to Government approval, that any advice or recommendations will be backdated to 1 March.

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