Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

In response to the Minister's comments on the issue, it appears he is saying people should pay either the €200 or the court costs. The notion of somebody having to go through an expensive court process to receive an exemption they should have been granted in the legislation is bizarre. The same is true with regard to the fact that the Minister says he will give guidance to local authorities. What he should be doing is providing them with clear direction through legislation. Failure to do this is a missed opportunity for the Minister to take leadership on this substantive issue - a separation agreement - which is something that is recognised in Ireland today. That the Minister is determining discriminating levels of status for people who are separated - as Deputy Tuffy pointed out - is nonsense. A separation agreement is an agreement reached by various means - through mediation, solicitors or personal agreement - which de facto states that two people no longer live together. They may have a second home, what was once a holiday home, where one of the partners now resides. This Bill in all common sense should provide that the exemption applies in that situation. On those grounds, the Labour Party will press the amendment.

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