Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

Previous speakers have made the point that it is not a good time of year to try to get information to the widest possible number of people. We are all aware that the activities of voluntary organisations, apart from sporting organisations, cease during the month of August. Many of the people we know who are leaders in Irish communities or voluntary organisations abroad come back home to visit during August. There is concern about the timing of the measure. I would prefer if the end date was later than September. None of us in the House would like to see any individual deprived of his or her rights. Would it not be possible for the Government to incorporate in the residential institutions statutory fund Bill the residual functions of the redress board? That would enable the work of the redress board to be activated again should applications that meet the criteria applied by the redress board arise.

To my knowledge, previously when statutory agencies ceased to exist residual functions were transferred back to the parent Department and when necessary the legislation could be invoked to deal with issues arising. When so much good work has been done under the auspices of the redress board it would be unfortunate if any one individual or a small number of people were deprived of their right to avail of the redress scheme. The measure should be incorporated in the statutory fund Bill. Hopefully, it would not need to be activated at any time but it would be a safeguard to ensure that nobody, through illness or other situation, who was not in a position to be advised or to know of the existence of the scheme would be left out. It would be a shame if in six or seven months time or later such a person became aware of the scheme and met with the criteria but was not be able to avail of it.

I am pleased that the Minister of State gave an assurance that following an analysis by the Department and the relevant agencies and redress board they are convinced that the vast majority of potential applicants have made appropriate application. The establishment of the statutory fund Bill will be complementary to the work that has already taken place. I cannot see why a provision could not be incorporated by the Minister, Deputy Quinn, in the autumn to deal with any particular lacuna that might arise following the proposals contained in the legislation.

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