Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I am not unsympathetic to the point the Deputy makes, but I believe it is not practical to have a report within six months of enactment of the legislation because very few pensioners will be affected within the first six months of its enactment. The Bill makes provision for a review and we can review it at that stage. I understand the point, but the solution the Deputy is proffering to deal with the point of having a report published on the implications of the clawback within six months of enactment is not appropriate. We will not be any wiser about the implications after six months because we will not know what the implications are. We can think into the future of how we might review things. In any event, there will be a review of the legislation but it is not practical to ask me to publish a report on the implications of the clawback period within six months when we will not be any wiser six months after enactment.

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