Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

If that be the case, can the Minister explain to the House why there are so many cases on appeal now when there has not been that number on appeal previously? Why is that the position? Why is there such a backlog of appeals when there was not such a backlog previously? In all my parliamentary questions to which the Minister replies, he keeps advising of the 44% increase in the applications under the various headings. We all told the Minister's predecessor of the position last year and she told us she had put in place the necessary measures and staff, including relocating staff, to cater with such matters. Why did that not happen or if it is happening, why does this continue to be the position? Why does the Minister pretend that when I raise this issue it is an attack on the officials. This is not an attack on the officials, as the Minister knows well; it is an attack on the system that is depriving people who ordinarily could expect to have their cases heard within a reasonable time.

The Minister is shirking his responsibilities and hiding or whining when challenged. It is time for him to stand up and be counted. If he wants proof I will bring him to the people in my constituency arbitrarily cut off because somebody decided these people were capable of work. If that is the case, medical science has been defied as well because in most of those cases, I and others in the House have medical evidence to back up reports already given by GPs; this challenges those who say otherwise.

It is insufficient for the Minister to skulk away and say that this is unfair, that there is a child in his arms and he cannot be hit. It is time to clear backlogs and ensure that the people being punished in this country - innocent victims - have their claims heard when they should be rather than being forced to wait, as has been the case heretofore.

The Minister should know it is now a time for social healing in this country. The fabric of our society is under pressure and people are looking at each other and blaming each other because they are hurting. They know who is the cause of the hurt but they know they cannot change the Government and must wait for it to walk. They keep asking us why somebody does not do something about the Government. We tell them that we cannot do so as people voted for the Government and we must wait for it to leave of its own accord.

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