Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I raised the same issue with the Ceann Comhairle two weeks ago and he kindly informed me that the matter was about to be resolved. I am sorry to have to agree with my colleague, not that I ever disagree with him, that what is happening is that the people of the country are being deprived of services and the whole system is coming to a halt. The Department of Social and Family Affairs is littered with appeals that are going around in circles, with no decisions being made.

We on this side of the House are receiving no answers to parliamentary questions and the Government is sitting smugly. Sadly, the end result is that many vulnerable people are being punished indirectly by the Government because it sees fit to do nothing about this subject.

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