Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not like to labour a point either but we have had form in this area before. Irish citizens who were abroad for just a number of years and came home of their own volition or because things did not work out in their new home and encountered the difficulty on return to Ireland that they were ineligible for many social welfare payments. My concern is that the guidelines the Minister issues may make it difficult for people who left the country for a period to qualify on return before the expiry of a set period. That is clearly the issue. We have already been given commitments in respect of previous legislation that guidelines would be flexible and able to take into account individual circumstances. When times are difficulty, however, the noose is tightened around guidelines qualification criteria by a Minister. By narrowing guidelines, the Government diminishes more people's rights and entitlements. There must be some form of scrutiny of guidelines. I have always believed regulations should be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and the subject of discussion in the Joint Committee on Health and Children. Even the programme for Government - that fine document - refers to the need to give Oireachtas committees more meaningful input on the monitoring of Departments and the discussion, implementation and teasing out of regulations. Section 5 represents another carte blanche approach to an issue. I am being asked to say in the Dáil simply that the Minister may issue guidelines. Of course, he will issue guidelines and do so quickly to make it difficult for people to qualify.

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