Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)

I hope the Minister is right, but only time will tell. I appreciate his clear statement that survivors will be able to advise the fund of their preference to continue with their current counsellor. I agree that it is difficult to envisage a scenario in which such a request would be denied, but it is not impossible. A decision might be made, for instance, that a particular counsellor is charging too much for his or her services. Where a particular counsellor moves to a different area, it might be argued that the associated travel costs for the client are a strain on the fund. The personal connection between the individual and his or her counsellor should be sacrosanct. However, I must take the Minister at his word on this. I hope he is proved correct in his view that this issue does not require explicit protection, because it is something that deserves protection.

See this speech in context