Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I know but the allegation is often made that we know these people. I certainly do not know them. I accept what the Deputy says and, like every aspect of fiscal policy, the issues in question are all worthy of consideration.

The Deputy also referred to reimbursements being made to the Department by insurance companies in the context of social welfare payments deducted from awards of special damages in respect of loss of earnings. In 2002, the Law Reform Commission recommended the introduction of a system modelled on that which obtains in the UK. I am extremely interested in giving consideration to this matter because any source of money would be welcome. However, quite a number of issues would have to be addressed before such a system could be introduced.

I was somewhat disappointed when I researched the position with regard to the UK's compensation recovery unit. The UK operates a slightly different tax year to Ireland but in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 tax years the unit raised between £138 million and £142 million. Given that the population is approximately ten times the size of Ireland's, it would appear that if we established such a unit we could take in €14 million. At one stage it was suggested that up to €88 million could be raised here. In light of the major amount of work that would be involved, I would be much more interested in taking in €88 million rather than €14 million. I will certainly be giving consideration to this matter. However, it does not appear to be quite as good a source of revenue as one might have envisaged.

There has been a great deal of debate on the issue of one-parent families. I hope Deputy Ó Snodaigh will come in and go mbeidh sé i láthair ar Chéim an Choiste. Cuirtear líomhaintí inár leith, development cronies, agus rudaí den sórt sin. Tá a fhios ag an Teachta, chomh maith is atá a fhios agam, cé hiad na daoine a bhfuil aithne agam orthu, daoine ar nós a athar féin. Is ball den Rialtas mé agus tá a fhios ag an Teachta cén stair oibre a bhaineann liom, nár oibrigh mé riamh don earnáil phríobháideach, gur oibrigh mé in eagraíochtaí Gaeilge i dtosach báire agus gur oibrigh mé ina dhiaidh sin do chomharchumann pobail. Tá a fhios aige freisin go bhfuil mo shaol caite agam ag obair do na gnáth-dhaoine agus don ghnáth-phobal. Tá díoma orm nuair nach bhfuil daoine sásta breathnú ar cheisteanna agus ar a laghad iad a phlé go hoscailte gan bheith ag tabhairt maslaí ar dhaoine eile. Is cuma cé chomh minic agus a thugtar an masla, tá a fhios ag muintir na Gaillimhe Thiar, an dream a vótálann ar mo shon, cé hiad mo chairde, cé dó a oibrím, cé hiad na daoine a bheidh fail acu orm nuair atá anró nó cruatan orthu agus cé dó a sheasaim. Is cuma an méid cáinte a dhéantar agus an méid iarrachta a dhéantar bréag a insint-----

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