Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the briefing this morning and I thank the departmental staff for their work over the night. On consideration of the proposition that is now in front of us, I am convinced that the new formula does not provide for an 8% increase in the first year. On that basis, I welcome the fact that the Minister has corrected the proposal. I also emphasise the point I made yesterday, which is that when officials in the Department are put under undue political pressure to deliver complex legislation in short periods of time, things of this magnitude happen. What I urge the Minister to do, as we are going to deal with more complex legislation next year, is please to learn from what has happened over the last week in order that we do not return to a situation early next year in which we have similar problems with future legislation. I am satisfied the issue that I and others raised is dealt with in the proposal here in front of us.

See this speech in context