Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)

There is no danger that sufficient trends will not emerge within the first 12 months to enable the Government to review the situation. Although I accept what the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, stated on Committee Stage, if that is the Government's intention, why not include it in the legislation? If the amendment is badly worded in the sense that it would force the Government to conduct the review within 12 months, perhaps it could be phrased more eloquently to the effect that a review would be conducted after the scheme had been operating for 12 months. It is unfortunate that ministerial assurances, although given in good faith, do not always translate into reality, regardless of who is in office I hasten to add. For this reason, I sought to include the provision proposed. I have heard the Minister's commitment which has been reiterated by the Minister of State to which we will hold the Government when the scheme has been in operation for at least 12 months.

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