Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

I agree substantially with what the Deputy said. The figure of 28 weeks is probably a low average but it is not possible to get the true average when there are two systems. Additional staff is being allocated to this work and, along with overtime and the new system them, this will have a significant impact.

Deputy Catherine Murphy has been working in the public interest for long enough to know that, as politicians, we cannot interfere with medical criteria. I understand that some matters defy belief but if we give experts - particularly medical experts - a particular job and set criteria, we must allow them to do their jobs. We cannot interfere in that area and it is only in the processing of claims that we can have an impact.

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