Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

No, I know what is in the Bill. We tabled an amendment on Committee Stage raising the period from three years to five years. In the case of a married couple, existing legislation provides that if the marriage breaks down immediately, there is an entitlement immediately for one partner to apply to the other for maintenance. If the marriage breaks down immediately, there is no period before the scheme kicks in. This is not discriminating against-----

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